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Cigarettes , Nicotine and Type 2

JohnD54

Well-Known Member
Messages
627
Location
Manchester
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Rice
Hi and good day to you all, can anyone assist with any information between smoking cigarettes and diabetes Type2.

As a man nearing 60' recently diagnosed with Type 2 I am interested to know if smoking has a direct effect on BG levels,
I am specifically asking about effects for diabetes not the other known issues with health. I accept it's a stupid thing to do
But started when I was thirteen and have tried many times to stop.

Was diagnosed type 2 some 6/7 weeks ago with an averaged BG of 9.5 at that time my weight was fast approaching 15 stone,
Managed to reduce this to 13s 6lbs now and looking to get below 12 and a half by then end of August, loosely following a LCHF food regime, exercising more etc etc. current BG between 5 & 7, pre meals and 1 or 2 hours after.

Any information about a direct correlation between smoking and BG appreciated.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
As far as I know smoking does not have a direct effect on blood sugar levels or on type 2 diabetes. That's the up side but unfortunately there is a down side.

If you are going to suffer damage from diabetes then it is likely to show up first in your extremities and/ or your eyes. If you are to suffer damage from smoking then it is likely to show up in your extremities. You see the problem, a double whammy.

Diabetes seems to have an effect on your circulation which could mean that high sugar content is a bit syrupy. Smoking has an effect on your circulation since red blood cells will quite happily carry carbon monoxide instead of oxygen if it can get some. That's why people with faulty heaters have problems.

Maybe you have a choice to make.
 
i think its just an accumulation of things that makes smoking worse for us, i also smoked my whole life, i went onto e-cigs just before diagnosis and i suppose I'm glad i did, unless that caused it lol if you haven't tried them, id suggest giving them a go, i smoked 40-60 roll ups a day for donkeys years and haven't had one since the moment i tried the ecig, i found giving up impossible after all the mints and patches etc, they aren't for everyone though, i know people that have tried them and hated them but worth a go, as diabetics we are more likely to have cardio vascular problems etc so as smokers as said by the squire its the double whammy thing that makes it a great time to stop, maybe the incentive you have needed
 
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Nicotine is responsible for consistent high blood sugar levels in diabetics ,,,, these consistent levels put you at higher risk for kidney damage , nerve damage, heart attack and stroke.
I quit smoking after smoking a pack a day for 30 years ,,,, first quit by switching to e-cigs ,,, do not buy the e-cigs that contain nicotine, in any amount. Buy the ones with zero nicotine ,,,you will find your next A1C reading is lower, your cholesterol and triglycerides are lower and blood pressure improved. It makes a huge difference in controlling your blood sugars and will help improve all your other readings which contribute to the metabolic syndrome.
 
its very easy to say just give up smoking, or anything else for that matter but harder to do unless we have the perfect motivation to do it, i think i could have given up smoking at diagnosis as my fear of dying was so strong but doing it with nicotene loaded ecigs is so much better than the real ciggies i reckon its big step in the right direction
 
I agree with you ,,,, there are thousands of damaging chemicals in real cigarettes, so switching to any kind of e-cig is a definite step in the right direction and I'm sure anyone would benefit from such a switch. However, to get real control over your blood sugar, specifically, you need to start lowering the amount of nicotine you use in e-cigs on a consistent basis, until you're not using any nicotine at all. I was suffering from a little nerve damage and after I quit smoking, it is slowly reversing ,,, I firmly believe my smoking was a big cause in myself developing diabetes, and from the research I've done, smokers have a 30 percent greater chance of developing diabetes. Once I quit completely, all my BG readings fell into the normal range, incl my last A1C ,,, it really makes a huge difference
 
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