Second-hand smoking could increase risk of diabetes

A new study has found that adults who are exposed to second-hand smoke could be linked with a higher risk of obesity and developing type 2 diabetes.
The preliminary research, involving survey information taken from over 6,300 people between 2001 and 2006, showed that adults exposed to second-hand smoke had a higher body-mass index (BMI) and a greater risk from type 2 diabetes than people who were not. They were also found to have higher HA1c values, higher measures of insulin resistance and higher fasting blood sugar levels.
The study, presented to the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in the United States, revealed that both smokers and those exposed to second-hand smoke had a similar rate of developing type 2 diabetes, and also shared a higher HA1c level than people who don’t smoke, despite smokers having a lower BMI than non-smokers.
However, although the researchers revealed a link between exposure to second-hand smoke and obesity and type 2 diabetes risk, it didn’t necessarily prove cause and effect.
Co-author of the study, Theodore Friedma, from the Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles, said “The association between second-hand smoke and type 2 diabetes was not due to obesity.” He added “More studies are needed to show whether second-hand smoke is a cause of diabetes.”