Smoking May Increase Insulin Resistance At Cellular Level
Secondhand smoking may increase insulin resistance at the cellular level, which would contribute to diabetes.
For the first time, a study has linked secondhand smoke with the development of diabetes, according to an article written by a Birmingham researcher and published Friday in the British Medical Journal.
The study - which was part of a larger research project looking at coronary-artery disease - followed 4,500 men and women from Birmingham and four other U.S. cities for 15 years.
The highest rates of diabetes and pre-diabetes occurred in smokers, about 22 percent. That was followed by people who were frequently exposed to secondhand smoke, about 17 percent. The next highest rate was found in previous smokers, about 14 percent. The lowest rate was found in people with no smoke exposure, about 12 percent.
Houston, an assistant professor at UAB’s medical school and a researcher at the Birmingham VA Medical Center said, researchers have three theories about why smoking may be related to diabetes:
There may be chemicals in tobacco smoke that are toxic to the pancreas, where insulin is produced. The study noted that smokers also carry higher risks for developing pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.
Smoking may increase insulin resistance at the cellular level, which would contribute to diabetes.
Smoking causes an unhealthy distribution of weight - causing fat to accumulate around the midsection. That may contribute to the development of diabetes.
