Know the Risks

You probably know that smoking causes many health issues, such as cancer and an increased risk of heart disease.  However, smoking can create other serious and life-threatening health problems as well.  If you have diabetes, smoking can further complicate your disease and put your health at serious risk.

National Diabetes Fact Sheet,2011

A Deadly Combination

Smoking and diabetes can both cause many health problems.  But if you have diabetes- and smoke, you more than double your risk of illness and death from heart attack, stroke and poor circulation.  People who have diabetes and smoke are more likely to suffer from these additional health problems:

• Smoking increases insulin resistance, which can cause HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
• Smokers with diabetes can cut the amount of oxygen going to tissues, causing HIGH CHOLESTEROL.
• You could develop eye, KIDNEY DISEASE and even BLINDNESS.
• You could develop cardiovascular complications, such as HEART ATTACK, STROKE and HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES.
• A smoker who has diabetes is three times more likely to die from HEART DISEASE than a non-smoker with diabetes.
• If you have diabetes, smoking DAMAGES BLOOD VESSELS, which can increase your risk forINFECTIONS AND AMPUTATIONS.