Smoking and Its Harmful Effects on Those with Diabetes

Smoking is indisputably harmful across the board to all people, but for those who suffer from Diabetes, smoking can create specific, unique health issues.  Those with Diabetes have a weakened body that allows the harming effects of nicotine to be more of a danger.

Firstly, those who smoke have an increased risk for Type 2 Diabetes.  People who have a family history are already at risk, but increase their chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes by up to 3 times that of a non-smoker, according to the American Journal of Epidemiology.  So if you smoke, this is yet another reason to quit before Diabetes or Cancer develops.

Diabetes is a disease that affects multiple functions of your body; it can cause nerve damage and lower the oxygenation in your blood stream. Nerve damage is a serious Diabetes symptom. Autonomic neuropathy is specifically a very dangerous form of nerve damage because these are the nerves that send warning signals from the spinal cord to the brain.  With those nerves damaged, your body losses its ability to warn itself and will result in ill adjustment of your blood pressure and heart rate. 

Cigarette smoke can also cause another danger by hardening and narrowing large and small blood vessels resulting in reduced blow flow to the rest of the body, also known as a drop in perfusion.  This is particularly dangerous because if your oxygenated blood does not reach its intended destination, the tissue in your extremities is likely to not function properly.  One occurrence of this is erectile dysfunction, a symptom that can have profound emotional and psychological impact on an individual.  This in itself is a very persuasive reason to give up smoking altogether, but for those who have been affected by this unfortunate symptom, the erectile dysfunction vacuum systems has proven to be an effective treatment . 

Once free of cigarettes your body will right some of the oppressed areas that have been affected.  As soon as you quit smoking you can see results like your heart rate and blood pressure returning to a lower state just after in the first hour, after the first day your carbon monoxide level returns to normal and at one year your risk of a coronary disease is cut in half compared to non-smokers.  Nicotine is the main driving factor that gives Diabetes suffers such a hard time controlling blood sugar levels.  Total eMedical has a great selection of diabetes testing supplies and monitors and critical tools for managing Diabetes.  We can also help you obtain these critical devices by working with your insurance company or Medicare that in many cases will cover your costs.

Prevent developments of nerve damage, improper blood follow and the onset of Type 2 Diabetes by quitting smoking today. Total eMedical is committed providing the best of Diabetic supplies to help you control the condition, but we strongly urge lifestyle changes – such as diet, exercise and quitting smoking.  We are a family owned and operated company that would like to make you feel as one of our own.  Let us be there for you on your way to a healthy and happy life!

Sources

American Journal of Epidemiology

American Diabetes Association

Web MD