SMOKING & DIABETES. Smoke signals E NRT Diabetes S08.indd 1 6/11/15 10:

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1 SMOKING & DIABETES Smoke signals 15366E NRT Diabetes S08.indd 1 6/11/15 10:

The truth about smoking It s a common belief that smoking is a habit or lifestyle choice. But the truth is that it s an addiction, and one that can be very strong.

When your brain doesn t receive the nicotine and satisfaction it s come to expect, the unpleasant feelings of withdrawal and cravings that follow are tied to these changes in brain chemistry.

2 The truth about smoking It s a common belief that smoking is a habit or lifestyle choice. But the truth is that it s an addiction, and one that can be very strong. Nicotine addiction changes brain chemistry over time. That s what makes quitting so hard. When your brain doesn t receive the nicotine and satisfaction it s come to expect, the unpleasant feelings of withdrawal and cravings that follow are tied to these changes in brain chemistry. In short, your body seems to call out for nicotine because it s no longer getting it. When trying to quit, the most important thing is to keep trying, even if you give in to a craving. Just like you manage your diabetes, take quitting one day at a time. Don t let your health go up in smoke. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can help you quit. What if I need help? If you re living with diabetes, quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to help prevent or delay complications. Fortunately, you have options when it comes to finding the best quit method for you. 20 mins What is NRT? Just 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drop to normal levels. Nicotine replacement therapy (or NRT) products are designed to help you manage your cravings and withdrawal symptoms. They supply your body with low doses of nicotine and deliver it more slowly than cigarettes. While you may still experience cravings with NRT, they should occur less often and be less intense over time. Without smoking, you ll no longer be taking in the thousands of harmful toxins found in cigarettes toxins that can cause cancer or complicate diabetes. GJJNIC 15366E NRT Diabetes S08.indd 2-3

Insulin response At a basic level, smoking can worsen your body s already weakened response to insulin. In fact, some smokers may be up to 40% less sensitive to insulin than nonsmokers.

3 How does smoking affect diabetes? It s well known that smoking can harm your health, but it can take an extra-heavy toll on those with diabetes when it comes to your insulin response, heart health and kidney function. Insulin response At a basic level, smoking can worsen your body s already weakened response to insulin. In fact, some smokers may be up to 40% less sensitive to insulin than nonsmokers. This means that your body may not be able to lower your blood sugar as well as it should. This is a key factor for people with diabetes whose well-being depends on their body s ability to use and store sugar (glucose) with the help of insulin. People with diabetes who smoke are more likely than nonsmokers to have trouble controlling their condition, and that can cause complications of the heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Kidney damage As organs that remove waste products from the blood, kidneys act as filters for our bodies. For people who have diabetes, it s been shown that smoking impairs kidney function, and can even lead to kidney disease. Heart health Just like high blood glucose levels, the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke can affect the way your heart and blood vessels (arteries) function. Not only does smoking significantly increase the risk for heart disease among people with diabetes, it also contributes to the hardening of the arteries, hurting your blood s ability to carry oxygen throughout your body. For people with diabetes who smoke, there s a higher chance that these effects could be fatal. The sooner you quit for good, the likelier it is you can lower this risk. More complications Together, the combination of high blood sugar and smoking dramatically increases damage to the blood vessels that feed the heart, brain, eyes, kidneys and nerves. This can speed up the long-term complications of diabetes. These complications may include nerve damage that causes numbness or pain in your feet, legs and hands, or more rarely, retinal damage that can lead to blindness in some cases. GJJNIC 15366E NRT Diabetes S08.indd 4-5

4 What are my options? NRT products come in several formats and strengths. Ask your healthcare provider to find out what might work best for you. No matter how you decide to tackle quitting, you ll be taking a step in the right direction. And remember, these products may or may not be right for you. Always read and follow the label. Patch Gum You don t have to go it alone. No matter how lonely quitting may feel, your doctor, nurse or pharmacist is there to support you. A good option for smokers who are looking for a constant level of nicotine Replaces the oral fixation of smoking and lets you switch quickly from one strength to another Oral spray Lozenge They ll work with you to figure out how ready you are to quit, whether you d like to cut down slowly or stop smoking right away, and what sorts of products might help make your journey easier. As one of the latest NRT options, this is the fastest form of nicotine delivery Inhaler Like gum, it provides an oral fix with flexible dosing options A hand-to-mouth option that mimics the physical movement of smoking 2X Remember, with the help of NRT along with a plan to change your behaviour, you can double your chances of quitting successfully. GJJNIC 15366E NRT Diabetes S08.indd 6-7

5 Helpful resources Smokers Helpline smokershelpline.ca QuitNow quitnow.ca Government of Canada Pan-Canadian Quitline healthycanadians.gc.ca References: 1. Canadian Diabetes Association. Smoking and diabetes. Accessed October 1, Stead LF, et al. Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD DOI: / CD pub3. 3. Ford K, Shilliday B. Smoking and diabetes: Helping patients quit. Clin Diabetes 2006;24;3: Roberts SS. Smoking and diabetes: Helping patients quit. Diabetes Forecast 2004: Eliasson B. Cigarette smoking and diabetes. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2003;45;5: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Promotion. Smoking and diabetes diseases/diabetes.html. Accessed September 30, Haire-Joshu D, et al. Smoking and diabetes. Diabetes Care 1999;22;11: Health Canada. Nicorette Quickmist product licence Zwar N, et al. Nicotine and nicotine replacement therapy the facts. Pharmacist 2006;25: National Cancer Institute. Dispelling myths about nicotine replacement therapy; US Department of Health and Human Services. brp/tcrb/documents/mythsaboutnrtfactsheet.pdf. Accessed November 5, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, division of Johnson & Johnson Inc., Markham, Canada L3R 5L2 Johnson & Johnson Inc PSNRT 15-71E 15366E NRT Diabetes S08.indd 8 6/11/15 10:

Smoking & heart disease. Where there s smoke

Smoking & heart disease. Where there s smoke Smoking & heart disease Where there s smoke The truth about smoking It s a common belief that smoking is a habit or lifestyle choice. But the truth is that it s a chemical addiction. What if I need help?