Smoking is widely known to cause various health problems across all age groups. However, for individuals with diabetes, it significantly heightens the risk of heart disease, stroke, and complicates the management of diabetes, according to a leading diabetologist on Sunday.
A 2023 study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), alongside Dr. Mohan and other researchers, found that India has an alarming 101 million people living with diabetes, and 136 million individuals with prediabetes. Additionally, the country has 315 million people suffering from hypertension and 213 million with high cholesterol.
Dr. V Mohan, Chairman of Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, took to the social media platform X.com to discuss the impact of smoking on people with diabetes. He emphasized that smoking increases insulin resistance, making it harder for the body to respond to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels and poorer diabetes management.
Dr. Mohan highlighted that smoking raises the risk of serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. It also worsens blood pressure and cholesterol levels, crucial factors in managing diabetes effectively. Furthermore, smoking impairs blood circulation in people with diabetes, increasing the risk of foot ulcers and infections that can lead to amputations.
“Smoking damages blood vessels, reducing blood flow and increasing the risk of foot ulcers and infections that can lead to amputations,” Dr. Mohan stated. He also noted that people with diabetes who smoke face a higher likelihood of fatal health outcomes compared to non-smokers, including a significantly higher risk of total mortality and cardiovascular mortality.
Dr. Mohan concluded with a call to action: “Take charge of your health: quit smoking and manage your diabetes better.”
