Nicotine is the tobacco component that most increases the risk of diabetes complications
Researchers at the California State Polytechnic University have discovered the first evidence of the involvement of nicotine as the main responsible for the persistent high blood sugar levels and the greatest risk resulting from serious health complications in smokers.The results of their work have been made public during the annual meeting of the American Society of Chemistry, which is held in Anaheim (United States).
The authors point out that the finding also has implications for people with diabetes who are using a nicotinic substitution therapy as a way to quit smoking.
According to the principal researcher, Xiao-Chuan Liu, “this is an important study, as it is the first that establishes a strong link between nicotine and diabetes complications.If you are a smoker and you have diabetes you should be worried and do everything possible to quit smoking. ”
Liu points out that previous research shows that the good control of blood sugar levels is key to preventing complications.The standard for long -term control of blood sugar levels in people with diabetes is the A1C (HBA1C) hemoglobin test.
Doctors have known for years that smoking increases the risk of developing complications and there are studies that also show that smokers with higher levels of HBA1C than non -smokers with the disorder.
However, no one knew what the substance in the smoke of the cigarettes was responsible for the elevation of HBA1C.Liu's team suspected that this harmful element of tobacco could be nicotine and analyzed its effects on HBA1C levels.For this they used human blood samples and showed that nicotine concentrations similar to those discovered in the blood of smokers did raise HBA1C levels.
“Nicotine caused HBA1C levels to increase by up to 34%.No one knew this.The highest levels of nicotine produced more HBA1C, ”says Liu.
The researcher points out that doctors could use study data as a basis for encouraging patients with diabetes to quit smoking.In relation to the use of nicotine patches, electronic cigarettes and other smoking products, Liu explains that people tend to use these products for short periods of time and that the benefits of quitting smoking exceed the risk of temporary increases inHBA1C.However, the researcher considers the long -term use of these products worrying