Quit Smoking

Effects of Smoking

Quitting smoking is good for your health and diabetes. Quitting can be hard but is worth it. You can get support from a stop-smoking program or your health care team.

Q True or False? Smoking causes breathing and lung problems only.
right

The role of smoking in causing lung disease is well known. But people who smoke are also more likely to develop high blood pressure and heart disease. Smoking is even more risky for people with diabetes.

Wrong

The role of smoking in causing lung disease is well known. But people who smoke are also more likely to develop high blood pressure and heart disease. Smoking is even more risky for people with diabetes.

When you quit smoking, you lower your blood pressure, raise your good cholesterol (HDL levels). Quitting can help reduce your risk for heart disease, blood vessel damage, kidney disease, nerve damage, dental disease, and cancer.

Before You Quit Smoking

  1. Write down each time you smoke for a week, any event or activity you were doing or about to do.
  2. Write down all the reasons you want to quit.
  3. Pick a day to quit and write it down. Choose a day with few pressures so you are not tempted to smoke from stress.
  4. Tell others you plan to quit and tell them how they can help you.
  5. Begin to exercise a few weeks before you quit smoking. Exercise can help you fight the withdrawal symptoms and weight gain.
  6. Plan rewards for not smoking. You might play a favorite game one week and go to a movie the next week.
  7. Consider joining a stop-smoking class. You may find it easier to quit with other people.
  8. Choose a method of quitting. There are many ways to quitting. Not every method works for every person. Your diabetes may be able to help you find a method that will work for you.

Remember it often takes several tries to quit, so don't get discouraged!

This information is a summary from "Diabetes A to Z" and is provided with the permission of the American Diabetes Association.

It is a comprehensive book and recommended by the American Diabetes Association with the most up-to-date recommendations presented in a simple, yet informative format.

Click on the image to go to the American Diabetes Association bookstore.

Note:Care4life has no commercial interest in any of the books or resources it recommends.