Smoking and Diabetes

Smoking itself can cause lot many health complications. In case of diabetics, it can aggravate the health risks which they are facing. Also, smoking can worsen a diabetic’s health by increasing the undermined health problems.

Here are some facts on how smoking affects a diabetic.

• Diabetics are at a higher risk of heart stroke. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches your tissues, and increases the risk of stroke.
• Diabetics who smoke will have a rise in their cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of heart attack.
• Smoking can damage and constrict the blood vessels, which can make foot ulcers and sores worst. It leads to infections. For diabetics who have to be very careful about their foot health, smoking increases the risk.
• Smoking increases the risk for nerve damage in diabetics.
• Diabetics who smoke are also at a higher risk for kidney diseases.
• Smokers are prone to suffer from cold and respiratory infections and diseases. It is very difficult for a diabetic to fight cold and control diabetes at the same time.
• Smoking increases the blood sugar levels, and causes a lot of damage which cannot be regained even by medication.
• Diabetics have a high risk of losing the mobility of their joints, especially hands. And, smoking limits the joint mobility to a more extent.
• Smoking increases blood pressure, and diabetics have a greater chance of suffering from high blood pressure than others.
• Diabetics have a high risk for some kinds of cancer. And smoking increases the risk of certain types of cancers in the mouth, throat, lung and bladder.
• Diabetics are at a higher risk of impotence. And, smoking increases the chances of developing impotence.