Diabetes and That Smoking Habit

July 15, 2008

Amy Tenderich

We all know that smoking is bad for your health. Very bad indeed. If you have diabetes, it’s a killer
combination of bodily damage. The American Diabetes Association can give you at least 11 good reasons not to smoke. The two that jumped out at me were: smoking makes you three times as likely to die of cardiovascular disease as non-smokers with diabetes, and impotence. It’s all bad, and every doctor will tell you the same thing: quit right now.
But what if you’ve tried to stop, and haven’t been totally successful? Or perhaps you’re worried about failing, and haven’t really tried. What can you do about it?

A quick survey of the medical literature shows over 1,700 clinical studies, and over 12,000 articles covering programs to help people stop smoking. This clearly shows that stopping is not easy, but we do know that there are many methods that can help, and we know that fewer people with diabetes are smoking cigarettes now than in the past. Group sessions; medications such as Zyban; behavior modification approaches; and nicotine substitutes in any form—from patches to gum to nasal spray—have all been shown to help, though obviously not successful 100% of the time.

Still, studies confirm that people using these help methods are more successful than people who just decide to “tough it out” and throw away their cigarettes (although this also works for some). Most importantly, clinical studies have shown that the more often you try to stop, the more likely it is that your next try will be successful. This means whenever you try, even if you end up not quitting cigarettes, your next attempt is more likely to succeed. Your medical provider can discuss the different approaches, and help you find the Tobacco Control Program in your state to obtain a list of local programs and resources.

Diabetes Expert Help
I looked into programs in my state, and discovered some extremely targetted expert help: the California Diabetes Program is currently running a campaign to assist certified diabetes educators (CDEs) in helping their patients quit smoking. The campaign’s theme is do you cAARd? The AAR stands for: Ask, Advise, Refer (they have a penchant for cutsey acronyms).
The idea is to encourage educators to:
• Ask every patient, at every visit: “Do you smoke or use tobacco?”
• Advise them to quit. “Make it a priority to quit; it’s important for your health.”
• Refer them to the California Smokers’ Helpline (1-800-NO-BUTTS) using the “Take Charge” Gold Card — a cute little marketing piece that looks like a credit card and urges smokers and other tobacco users to call the Helpline)
They offer materials and helplines in a half-dozen different languages. And they even offer educators some intervention-speak, all scripted out:
“I know quitting smoking is very difficult. Most people who want to quit are successful. Sometimes it takes more than one try. I know you can do it. Let me refer you to the cessation quitline, they can help you quit.”
This may sound corny, but at least they’re using the “Home Depot method” of patient engagement (You Can Do It. We Can Help!) So kudos to the organization for that.
Honestly, I can’t remember any of the myriad diabetes doctors or educators I’ve seen ever talking to me about smoking. But they should have!
I’ve watched family friends struggle with quitting, so I have a sense of how hard that can be. If you’re dealing with all the struggles of managing diabetes too – well, that’s just got to make it so much harder.
Still, I urge you not to give up the fight, because as my co-author Dr. Richard Jackson of the world-class Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston says: “Continuing to work towards quitting smoking is one of the single most important things you can do for your diabetes health.”

From	Comment
2tll4u	May 6, 2009 8:22 PM I smoked a pack a day for over 30 years and semi quit over a year ago on the middle patch. Honestly I've had maybe 4 cigs since, mostly a puff here and there around my friends who still smoke. I actually think being around them smoking helped me stop. Second hand smoke and a patch was better than no smoke. lol. I tried to quit 4 times over the last 15 years. This has been the longest I gone without full blown relapsing. Stupid me, when I quit, I also quit going to the gym. So I've gained 26 lbs. and my glucose levels went up about the same. Now I'm walking every morning and the wieght is slowing coming down. I feel better and encourage everyone to try to quit..and if you fail,get up and try again. Blessed be..
alwaystryin	April 17, 2009 3:58 PM Both my Wife and I smoke and have for a lot longer than she has been diagnosed. Of course we are aware of the health complications. At least as it related to general health issues. The last time my Wife went to the ER, one of the DR's at first seemed very caring, soft spoken etc. and ensured us she was going to be admitted and helped. He is now and will forever be know to us as 'Dr. Puff Puff". He not only came at both of us very hard about smoking, and specifically Diabetes and Smoking. We honestly were not aware until then the SPECIFIC dangers for Diabetics that smoke. He went as far as also having her regular DR come to the ER and give us another barrage. All the adults in the household smoke. As a recovering alcoholic, I remember trying not to drink while there was beer everywhere all the time!
mamaoak	April 17, 2009 3:25 PM this is agood artical to read.
svengali35	January 26, 2009 4:27 AM I quit in 2004 using Commit lozenges due to a 12.5 hr trip to Australia... Considering the 3 pack a day habit I had coming into the trip I figured I would have problems not smoking for 12+ hours... I tried the mint flavored lozenges and continued with them for 2 years.... My CFO then asked me why I was still chewing them and I thought "your right" I tossed them right then and there and haven't smoked since.