Quitting smoking

[Steve14]

Have a question for those who quit smoking after their diagnosis. I've read some scientific journals in the past of how smoking affects sugar levels, and as far as I remember there wasn't a significant difference between smokers and non-smokers (we're talking about >1 point or so).

When healthy people quit smoking the first thing they say is "I have tons more energy". So if getting more oxygen circulated throughout the body (resulting in more energy), and knowing that diabetes is a disorder of energy metabolism, then quitting smoking should significantly affect our levels in a good way, right? So why doesn't it? And most importantly: what was your experience after quitting?

 

[GrantGam]

and knowing that diabetes is a disorder of energy metabolism, then quitting smoking should significantly affect our levels in a good way, right?

Stopping smoking can only lead to improvement, it will certainly offer no benefits.

However, I smoke and I have good control. Given that, if I were to stop tomorrow - I would not expect to see any significant improvements. I believe that how well you manage your diabetes through insulin therapy, exercise and dietary choices are going to be the biggest catalysts in how sound your BG levels are, how good you feel overall or whether you have "tons more energy".

Good luck on stopping by the way if you plan to.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Have a question for those who quit smoking after their diagnosis. I've read some scientific journals in the past of how smoking affects sugar levels, and as far as I remember there wasn't a significant difference between smokers and non-smokers (we're talking about >1 point or so).

When healthy people quit smoking the first thing they say is "I have tons more energy". So if getting more oxygen circulated throughout the body (resulting in more energy), and knowing that diabetes is a disorder of energy metabolism, then quitting smoking should significantly affect our levels in a good way, right? So why doesn't it? And most importantly: what was your experience after quitting?

I don't know of any research into this. I only know that smoking and diabetes both give circulation problems but in different ways. Smoking reduces the oxygen carrying capability of the blood since red blood cells are quite happy to carry carbon monoxide instead of oxygen and this is no good for you. Trying not to be grisly here but all those faulty boilers and people who die with an unnatural pink complexion are testament to this.

Diabetes can change the viscosity of the blood since lots of sugar is thicker. I also have an entirely personal theory that the crystalline nature of sugar is also harmful. There is no research for this either but excess salt is known to be a problem.

So with smoking there is a general loss of oxygen carrying capability and with diabetes the blood doesn't go everywhere it is supposed to.

If you have two debilitating conditions then giving up one of them may not make you better.

 

[Steve14]

Current smokers with type 1 diabetes have higher odds of severe hypoglycemia episodes.

I quit once (before diabetes) and can tell that the effects were nothing short of amazing. If I could feel half as good, then I'd be happy. Now I just need to quit for life and make no excuses.

 

[Steve14]

...
So with smoking there is a general loss of oxygen carrying capability and with diabetes the blood doesn't go everywhere it is supposed to...

That is a good way to put it. Smoking cessation may lessen hypo occurrence, and with better oxygen supply you should be able to push your body more during exercise, so a better A1C could be achieved. Senses like smelling and tasting would also improve, possibly leading to less picky eating habits and an overall healthier diet. At the end my question changes to: why is this **** even legal?...

 

[Squire Fulwood]

At the end my question changes to: why is this **** even legal?...

Which particular "****" are you talking about. Nothing needs legislation to make me do things. I just don't buy anything that doesn't help me in my endeavor to keep my blood sugar in check. Legislation is what got us into this mess.

 

[Ian_Laye]

I changed to an e cig a couple of years ago, although I am still addicted to nicotine I can now take my dog for regular walks in the Black Mountains without getting breathless going up the steep inclines.

 

[MuntiJay]

i quitted smoking 2 months ago, i see only positive results

 

[Bluetit1802]

I didn't stop but cut down by over half. I noticed a slight INCREASE in my base levels across the board, although actual post meal rises were,'t affected. I did read somewhere that this can happen. It could of course have been stress caused by the cutting down. Or some other coincidence.

 

[Steve14]

Which particular "****" are you talking about. Nothing needs legislation to make me do things. I just don't buy anything that doesn't help me in my endeavor to keep my blood sugar in check. Legislation is what got us into this mess.

I was talking about cigarettes being legal. They put so much **** in it, which basically makes it "****".

I changed to an e cig a couple of years ago, although I am still addicted to nicotine I can now take my dog for regular walks in the Black Mountains without getting breathless going up the steep inclines.

i quitted smoking 2 months ago, i see only positive results

I didn't stop but cut down by over half. I noticed a slight INCREASE in my base levels across the board, although actual post meal rises were,'t affected. I did read somewhere that this can happen. It could of course have been stress caused by the cutting down. Or some other coincidence.

Yes! These are the kind of responses I was looking forward to. Keep up the good work and never look back! Stress could be a culprit. For some, stress may not affect their sugars significantly while for others it's a different story. Mine is severely impacted by stress so I know how you feel.

I'm a fool and started smoking again after a death in the family! Although I had one this morning at 6am and only just had another at half 4pm, so not smoking anywhere near as much as before but still!! Never noticed any difference with my levels to be fair. I totally stopped for 6 weeks.

I'm sorry to hear that. I quit once, but it was short lived. I quit just before I met my (soon to be ex) wife, but we lived on different continents. It's not just that I never flew by myself before (not including the small Cessna with my parents when I was like 4 years old), but never even flew from country to country inside of EU. I had an overseas flight ahead of me all by myself, and it stressed me out so much that I began smoking again. There's no threat nor excuse left, not even rational ones, so it's time to quit.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

There's no threat nor excuse left, not even rational ones, so it's time to quit.

You must have heard the old joke, " I find giving up smoking easy, I've done it thousands of times", and this applied to me before my total success in 1979.

Cold turkey is the only way that works. All other substitute devices are just a way of saying that you don't really want to give up.

 

[michael88]

I've tried a few cheap vaping cigarettes which helped me stop smoking for 6 weeks but then I started again. I purchased a more expensive one and never looked back, I must say that first week or so had me reaching for snacks a bit more than usual so my levels where a little higher than I wanted but I've stopped since January and been able to start jogging to keep levels down too without stopping every 10 minutes. I still crave a cigarette every now and again but the vape I have gives me the nicotine kick Im wanting