Smoking and Diabetes: Know the Risks and Get Support (West Region)

This article contains information specific to beneficiaries living in the West RegionAlaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa (excludes Rock Island arsenal area), Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri (except St. Louis area), Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas (southwestern corner including El Paso), Utah, Washington and Wyoming.. Check the map to find your region.

 

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. Several risk factors can contribute to developing type 2 diabetes. These include being overweight and not being physically active.

 

But did you know that smoking can lead to developing type 2 diabetes, too? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who smoke cigarettes are 30%–40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people who don’t smoke. The more cigarettes you smoke, the more likely you are to get diabetes.

 

Smoking also makes it harder to manage diabetes. This includes trouble with insulin dosing.

 

And if you have diabetes and you smoke, you’re more likely to have serious health problems caused by diabetes. These health problems can include:

• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Poor blood flow in legs and feet
• Eye disease (may cause blindness)
• Damaged nerves affecting the arms and legs (may cause numbness, pain, weakness, and poor coordination)

If you have diabetes and you smoke, quitting smoking will benefit your health right away. This is because people with diabetes who quit smoking are better able to manage their blood sugar levels.

 

TRICARE covers tobacco cessation services. This includes counseling and tobacco cessation products.

 

Health Net Federal Services (HNFS) also provides resources for managing diabetes and quitting smoking.

• For help with managing diabetes, try HNFS’ Essentials of Diabetes Management recorded class.
• HNFS also offers one-on-one diabetes management coaching. Read FAQs to learn more and nominate yourself.
• For help with quitting smoking, visit HNFS’ Time to Quit online program or Preparing to Quit Tobacco recorded class.

Find more resources at www.tricare-west.com/go/tobacco.