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A new University of Georgia study found that those who smoke cigarettes, use e-cigarettes, or both are significantly more likely to develop prediabetes and diabetes. The results disproved the idea that vaping is a “safer” option by showing how it can worsen insulin resistance and interfere with metabolic health. Researchers also discovered that the likelihood of developing diabetes or prediabetes was even higher among Hispanic and Black individuals living in lower socioeconomic conditions and among those with pre-existing health issues. Utilizing over 1.2 million data points from the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, the researchers analyzed e-cigarette and standard smoking use and how it correlated to both prediabetes and diabetes diagnoses. The study found vaping was associated with a 7% increased risk of prediabetes. E-cigarette use may cause short-term insulin resistance and weight gain, both risk factors for prediabetes. Smoking traditional cigarettes and cigars raised that risk to 15%. For people who vaped and smoked, the risk was even greater at 28%. Users of both cigarettes and e-cigarettes also had higher odds, 7 and 9%, respectively, of being diagnosed with diabetes in general, as well, not just developing risk factors for it. Researchers found a variety of characteristics could further elevate the risk of prediabetes and diabetes diagnoses. Being overweight or obese while smoking increased the likelihood of getting these disorders since e-cigarette users with a greater body mass index performed worse than normal-weight vapers. Hispanic, Black, and Asian individuals who smoked or vaped were more likely to be diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes than white people. People in lower-income categories likewise faced a higher risk (12%) of both conditions. But regular exercise made a difference, cutting the risk of prediabetes for smokers down by 8%, which researchers say offers a chance at mitigation. Sulakshan Neupane, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, in a remark said, ‘As the use of e-cigarettes rises rapidly, it’s vital we understand their broader health impacts.’ Neupane said this is not just about the lungs anymore, but the entire body and metabolic health. According to him, “People who aren’t earning enough money experience mental stress and tend to smoke or use alcohol to reduce that stress, which leads to these increased risk factors. These findings have important implications for public health efforts to curb smoking and improve diabetes outcomes.” Experts suggested that vaping may cause short-term insulin resistance, a key risk factor for prediabetes; nicotine can reduce insulin secretion from the pancreas, contributing to high blood glucose levels and potentially leading to diabetes over time, and vaping is associated with weight gain, another risk factor.
