Tobacco is the only consumer product that harms every person exposed to it and kills half of its regular users.

Smoking increases the risk of a premature death.   Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, the combination of diabetes and smoking carries an even higher risk.

Smoking damages your lungs and circulation as well as your heart.   It lowers the amount of oxygen that gets to your organs, while raise your bad cholesterol, and raising your blood pressure.  All of these can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Smoking is also known to be an independent risk factor for insulin resistance which often leads to diabetes; it is a major factor in the development and progression of diabetic neuropathy.  Smoking can also impact on your sight by contributing additional risk of developing retinopathy.

The overall prevalence of cigarette smoking in Ireland in June 2010 was 23.6% (Irish Cancer Society).  However, more women smoke than men and smoking is more prevalent among people in partly-skilled and unskilled occupations; among women in this group for instance up to 56% smoke cigarettes.

There are more than one million smokers in Ireland and smoking is now costing the HSE €2 billion each year.

Some Other Dangers of Tobacco:
•    One in two smokers will die of a tobacco related illnesses.
•    Smoking is responsible for 80% of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
•    Smokers are at 10 to 16 times more at risk of developing PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease).
•    75-98% PAD caused by smoking, PAD leads to claudication, gangrene and may necessitate amputation.
•    Smoking increases the risk of stroke and an increase in cognitive disorders, dementia and depression.
•    Smoking can cause infertility.
•    Smoking may cause impotence in men
•    The average smoker loses between 5-6 years of life as a result of smoking.

Quitting Smoking:
70% of smokers want to quit but nicotine is the highly addictive drug.  Only understanding nicotine and the nature of addiction can ultimately help when supporting smokers to quit.

Quitting smoking will nearly immediately help your heart and lungs—and it lowers the risk of hurting your blood vessels, eyes, nerves, and other organs.

Different strategies for giving up smoking work for people.  Some find that a ‘cold turkey’ approach works and may find that quitting all at once works for them, other gradually taper off their smoking gradually by cutting back over several weeks before defeating their addiction completely.

There is evidence that nicotine patches, chewing gum, inhalers, or spray can also help.  You can also ask your doctor for a prescription medicine or explore counseling, acupuncture, or hypnosis.

Life after Nicotine:
Once to have quit smoking you will have drastically reduced the risk of developing a major diabetes-related complication.

People who give up smoking experience often report having more energy, fewer headaches, and greater ease in walking.  You can also expect your hair, gums, teeth and breath to benefit from giving up.  On top of that you’ll save hundreds of euro from giving up!

Visit the National Smokers Quitline below or call (1850) 201 203 for help to quit smoking.
http://www.quit.ie/
http://www.cancer.ie/quitting/quitline.php