Debate over stopping smoking and diabetes risk

A recent study that links smoking cessation with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes has come under scrutiny. An article agreed that type 2 diabetes risk could be increased due to depression post smoking, but argued that the study needed a specific assessment of depression. Type 2 diabetes risk could be increased post smoking due to unhealthy behaviour, decreased insulin sensitivity or inflammation of the system.
The analysis of the ARIC study looked at different rates of diabetes development amongst smokers and never-smokers, and pointed out that the effects of smoking on weight may differ by sex .
Finally, the analysis looked at the potential way in which eating habits change after smoking is stopped. The study was based only on long-term dietary patterns, meaning that conclusive results could not be proven. The experts concluded that older men who were heavy smokers and who gained more weight after quitting were the most likely to develop diabetes .