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SMOKING AND DIABETES
by David J. DeRose, MD, MPH, The WellnessWise Electronic Journal.
A healthy lifestyle can improve diabetes control. I'm Dr. David DeRose. In a moment
we'll look at that subject on WellnessWise.
Diabetes is a common and serious disease in America. Kidney failure is one particularly
devastating complication of the disease. However, recent research indicates that careful
control of blood sugar can decrease the risk of diabetic complications like those
affecting the eyes, nerves, or kidneys.
Another powerful way to prevent or delay diabetic kidney problems was reported in 1994. In
that study, nearly 100 individuals with Type I diabetes, high blood pressure and diabetic
kidney problems were studied for one year. Blood pressure was carefully and effectively
controlled in all the subjects. But well over one third of them were smokers.
Over the next 12 months, kidney function worsened in over 50% of the smokers. However,
only 11% of the lifetime nonsmokers had kidney function deterioration. That means the
smokers had over 4 times the risk of further kidney worsening. Those who were ex-smokers
also did significantly better than the current smokers.
The message is clear. If a young person is a diabetic, not smoking can make a profound
health difference. If a diabetic already smokes, "kicking the habit" should be
strongly encouraged.
For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.
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This article is reproduced from The WellnessWise Electronic Journal, copyright David J.
DeRose, MD, MPH.
Back issues of WEJ are available at several sites in cyberspace. Some of the
more popular sites are as follows:
(1) http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/wej/
(2) http://www.glasscity.net/~tolsda/wej/
(3) http://www.tagnet.org/InfoCenter
(4) http://www.social.com/health/news.html
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Send all correspondence to:
David J. DeRose, MD, MPH
E-mail addresses: docderose@aol.com or 74532.622@compuserve.com.
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