According to the American Diabetes Association, "There are 57 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes." Many of these people do not realize it, but long-term damage is already occurring to their bodies despite not having a diagnosis of actual diabetes. Smoking also causes damage to the body and often increases the risk of severe diabetic complications.
Identification
Pre-diabetes is defined as a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal limits, but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is often an indicator of a future diagnosis of diabetes. Pre-diabetics are also at increased risk of heart disease and stroke. This risk is doubled by smoking.
Significance
Diabetes and smoking are both risk factors for narrowed blood vessels. Higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, experienced with pre-diabetes, causes damage to blood vessels. As a result, narrowed blood vessels make it more difficult for blood to travel throughout the body, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The carbon monoxide from smoking also damages blood vessels, causing dangerous plaque build-up and increasing the risk of narrowed vessels.
Risk Factors
Developing diabetes as an adult evolves from several risk factors. Family history and ethnicity or race are factors that are beyond your control. However, the American Heart Association suggests controllable factors such as drinking and smoking significantly increase your risk. They say smoking 16 to 25 cigarettes daily increases your chances of developing pre-diabetes and diabetes by three times.
Considerations
Smoking can increase blood sugar, according to the Health Care and Education Committee of Diabetes Australia Ltd. "Tobacco use can increase insulin resistance and stimulate stress hormones," it reports. Insulin resistance and stress hormones make it harder to manage pre-diabetes and increase the risk of pre-diabetes becoming diabetes. Smokers should consider quitting to reduce this risk.
Warning
The American Diabetes Association reminds patients that "smoking and diabetes are a deadly duo." Pre-diabetics must treat their condition as if they have been diagnosed with diabetes. You should eat right, exercise and not smoke. Smoking increases many of the complications caused by diabetes. Concerns about weight gain after quitting should be considered, but can be managed. Quitting is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body.
