Smoking

If you are a smoker who has recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it is likely that the habit is already a part of your life. This can make the idea of stopping very daunting. However, "kicking the habit" makes sense for the following reasons:

Fifty per cent of people who smoke for 20 years or more will die from a smoking related illness.

Smoking and diabetes both increase your risk of heart and blood vessel diseases.

Smoking with diabetes is linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, diabetic eye disease and lung cancer.

Smoking and Type 2 diabetes both place strain on your body's ability to control blood pressure.

Nicotine from smoking can affect your blood glucose level and if you are using insulin this can result in a slower absorption from the injection site.

Nicotine hinders the effectiveness of insulin, a syndrome known as "insulin resistance". This can make your diabetes more difficult to manage.

Smoking affects the lungs and can cause chronic lung damage.

Exercising and losing weight will be harder for you if you are a smoker. Controlling your diabetes without the need for medication and through lifestyle changes alone is therefore more unlikely.

Stopping smoking is a really positive way to increase your chances of better health and a long life.

Speak to your doctor or diabetes healthcare team for advice about how to stop smoking. If you decide you want to kick the habit, there is lots of help at hand,  tips to quit and different methods you can choose from.