Tobacco Plant and Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus affects some 422 million people around the world and is responsible for causing nearly 1.5 million deaths. It must be noted that type 2 diabetes is the most common form. Cigarettes and other tobacco derivates have several chemical compounds that can potentially affect metabolism. Nicotine is a major substance in cigarettes and is produced naturally by the tobacco plant. Smoking has now been established as a cause of type-2 diabetes. Research has shown that smokers are a greater risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Cut Down Smoking

It has been shown that as the number of cigarettes an individual smokes per day increases, so does the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. But how exactly does this happen? Well, smoking leads to inflammation in the body and this is when the harmful chemicals in the cigarette injure the body cells causing swelling. This leads to the creation of hindrances in normal cell function.

Smoking is also known to cause oxidative stress which occurs when the smoke compounds react with the oxygen in the body which damages cells. Researchers believe that the combined action of inflammation and oxidative stress caused by smoking leads to a higher risk of diabetes.

What Happens When Diabetics Smoke

Research shows that when those with type 2 diabetes consume nicotine, the hormone insulin that lowers the levels of blood sugar becomes less effective in action. Diabetics who smoke will, therefore, need high doses of insulin to help keep their blood sugar in check.

In fact, diabetic smokers are likely to face severe health problems which include kidney and heart disease, hindrance in blood flow, retinopathy (which can lead to blindness), and peripheral neuropathy.

What you should do

Experts recommend that those diabetics who smoke should immediately quit smoking and stop the use of tobacco products. It is after quitting smoking and tobacco consumption that diabetics can begin to effectively manage their blood sugar.