In a joint effort, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the University of Newcastle have highlighted a critical finding: quitting smoking can significantly lower the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by 30-40 percent. The collaborative brief emphasizes the importance of understanding the link between smoking and its impact on the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, a factor influencing the onset of type-2 diabetes.
Type-2 diabetes, a prevalent chronic disease worldwide, accounts for over 95 percent of all diabetes cases. While it is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, the WHO underscores that type-2 diabetes is often preventable. Lifestyle factors such as being overweight, lack of exercise, and genetic predisposition contribute to its development.
The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 537 million people currently live with diabetes, a number continuing to rise, making diabetes the ninth leading cause of death globally. Smoking further exacerbates the risks associated with diabetes, leading to complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness, delayed wound healing, and an increased risk of lower limb amputations.
The IDF urges individuals to quit smoking to reduce their risk of diabetes and, for those already diagnosed, to help avoid complications. The call extends to governments to implement policy measures discouraging smoking and ensuring smoke-free environments in public spaces.
Quitting smoking not only reduces the risk of developing diabetes but also mitigates the potential complications associated with the condition. Health professionals are deemed pivotal in motivating and guiding individuals with type-2 diabetes on their journey to quit tobacco. Simultaneously, governments are urged to enforce comprehensive smoke-free policies in indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport.
These interventions, according to Ruediger Krech, WHO’s Director of Health Promotion, are essential safeguards against the onset and progression of various chronic diseases, highlighting the broader impact of smoking cessation on public health.
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