If you smoke, you have an increased chance of developing diabetes. Recent studies have indicated that smokers are at least 50% more likely than nonsmokers to get this disease.
Smoking also makes the effects of diabetes worse. Among people with diabetes, those who smoke are more likely to develop diabetes-related kidney damage, nerve damage, eye problems, and heart disease. The death rate of people with diabetes who smoke is higher than that of people with diabetes who don't smoke.
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The hormone insulin is produced by a gland in your abdomen called the pancreas. Your body needs insulin to process the carbohydrates in the food you eat and to keep your blood sugar levels normal.
In people with diabetes, either the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin or the person's body doesn't use the insulin properly. As a result, blood sugar levels get too high, leading to problems such as excessive thirst, weight loss, tiredness, the need to urinate frequently, and infections that don't go away. Diabetes can't be cured, but it can be controlled with medication, monitoring, and changes in eating and exercise habits. If diabetes is not treated or if it is poorly controlled, it can cause serious complications involving the eyes, kidneys, heart, and other organs.
