Everyone knows smoking is bad for your lungs, heart and blood vessels. But did you know smoking also increases your risk for some of the complications associated with diabetes? Smoking raises blood pressure and may increase your risk for eye and kidney diseases, amputations and erectile dysfunction (impotence).
Kicking the nicotine habit may be the most challenging obstacle you have to overcome when you learn you have diabetes. Yet many people have been able to break free of the cigarette habit—and you can, too.
If you are ready to quit smoking, pick a date within the next month as your target date. Next, make a plan to help you get there. Here are some ideas:
- Set yourself up for success. For example, throw out your lighters and ashtrays, and let people you spend time with know about your plans to quit. Work with your health care provider to decide whether to go cold turkey, use medications or cut back gradually. Make a plan to help you deal with the difficult times or when unexpected cravings creep up.
- Find and get support. You may want to join a quit-smoking program or ask a friend or family member to be a supporter. Ask that they be tolerant of your mood changes for a while. Ask others who smoke not to offer you cigarettes or smoke around you.
- Learn new ways to handle stress. Take walks, keep your hands and mouth busy, listen to music or change your normal routine in a way that will help you avoid cravings.
- Write down your top three reasons for not smoking. Put those notes in various places, such as on the refrigerator, bathroom mirror or desk at work or home. Look at this list—even if you’ve committed it to memory—when the going gets tough.
- Determine what some of your smoking triggers are. For example, if you always smoke in the car, try listening to a self-help cassette to inspire you not to light up. If you usually have a cigarette after your coffee, try altering where you are when you drink that morning cup.
- Be prepared. Some people gain weight when they stop smoking. If gaining weight is a concern, talk with your health care provider about ways to avoid weight gain. Keep sugar-free gum or other low-calorie chewables handy. Exercise helps relieve stress and burns calories, as well.
- Get medical help. Use a nicotine patch, gum or other medication under your health care provider’s supervision.
- If you are not ready to quit or if you have mixed feelings about it, ask yourself why. It takes most smokers three or four attempts to give up smoking successfully. In reality, quitting is a process, something that has to be done every day. A good thought to keep in mind is, “Don’t give up on giving up cigarettes.”
