Re: E-cigs and diabetes
they contain Propylene glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG)in small amounts. I found the same when i used them so researched it. I stayed with them tho.. reckoned smoking was the real risk. I don't smoke now
Propylene glycol is an organic compound which has ubiquitous applications in everything from food manufacturing to lubrication of industrial equipment. Oral toxicity for both acute and long-term exposure is very low. In humans, PG is metabolized into lactic, pyruvic (a ketone), and acetic (vinegar) acids, all three of which are already naturally found in the human body. The only complication I could see from this would be if you take metformin. Although rare, metformin has been known to potentiate lactic acidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a build-up of lactic acid. However, it’s doubtful that the amount of lactic acid the PG in your pseudo-cigarette would cause you to metabolize would be sufficient to induce lactic acidosis. The bottom line: propylene glycol is generally recognized as safe and should have a neutral effect on blood sugar concentration.
Vegetable glycerin, more commonly referred to as glycerol, is a polyol alcohol compound. Glycerol is a common food additive which works as a preservative, a sweetener, and thickening agent. Humans metabolize glycerol into a form of triglycerides, phospholipids, and possibly glucose. Since glycerol is an alcohol, it does metabolize like a carbohydrate, although it has a lower glycemic index than sucrose. Thus, it is likely to cause a small increase in your blood sugar, though the amount contained in your pseudo-cigarette is unlikely to make that increase significant (or perhaps even detectible). The bottom line: vegetable glycerin is generally recognized as safe and might produce a modest temporary elevation of blood sugar.
The bottom-bottom line: whatever risks might be involved with the intake of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin are clearly much smaller than the known risks of cigarette smoking. I applaud you in your decision and action to discontinue smoking. Nicotine is perhaps the most addictive drug to exist, so I highly respect your efforts.