HealthDay (3/25, Gordon) reported that “nicotine in cigarettes may be even more deadly for people who have diabetes,” according to findings presented at an American Chemical Society meeting in Anaheim, California. In lab experiments, researchers from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona found that even the smallest dose of nicotine “increased HbA1C levels by 8.8 percent. The highest dose — after two days of nicotine treatment — increased blood sugar levels by 34.5 percent.”
According to the Time (3/27, Park) “Healthland” blog, the study “also implies that if you are a smoker, and not diabetic…your chances of developing diabetes is higher.” Moreover, the results suggest that “nicotine replacement products such as patches and nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes, aren’t a safe option for diabetes patients either. Because they still contain nicotine, these products are just as likely to boost A1c levels as cigarettes are.”
