Passive smoking increases type 2 diabetes risk, says worrying new research

Generally, the United Kingdom media reported the story accurately, with most headlines focusing on the 22% risk increase attributed to secondhand smoke exposure – otherwise known as passive smoking.

Compared with never smoking, current smoking increased the risk for the disease by 37 percent, according to the report published September 18 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

A wide-ranging analysis of 88 studies covering almost six million people had found that both smokers and people breathing in second-hand smoke could see an increased risk of developing the debilitating condition.

The study also concluded that the discovery does not only applies to smokers, but secondhand smokers are at equal risk for type 2 diabetes.

While the evidence pointing to smoking as a risk factor for cancer, along with respiratory and heart disease, is overwhelming, the case for type 2 diabetes has been slower to build. Interestingly, the research also found that the chance of developing diabetes rises slightly (to about 1.5 times) for up to five years after a person has stopped smoking; however, it then falls to about 1.2 times after five years of not smoking.

Smokers have a much greater risk for type 2 diabetes than those who never smoked, and the same is true for those routinely exposed to secondhand smoke, a new study suggests.

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease, but many individuals are reluctant to quit because they are concerned about weight gain.

Could the higher risk of type 2 diabetes after giving up smoking be attributable to the weight increase that typically occurs at that stage, of 4-5 kg on average in the first year? Researchers say the risk extends to family members, exposed to second hand smoke. The smoke-free policies can provide protections for non-smokers and may lead to increased successful cessation in smokers.

“The long-term benefits of smoking cessation on diabetes and other health outcomes would greatly offset the short-term increased risk of diabetes.”

Nevertheless, Dr. Elliot cautioned that the study doesn’t find a cause-and-effect link between passive smoking and risk of diabetes. “Public health efforts to reduce smoking will have a substantial impact on the global burden of type 2 diabetes”, said co-author Frank Hu, professor at the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health.