I was a chronic smoker for ten years. I have entirely stopped smoking for the past five months. But I am worried about the after-effects of quitting smoking. Can it lead to diabetes or affect my blood sugar levels? I have gained almost 5 kg since I stopped smoking. Should I do a blood sugar test? Which tests should be done for diabetes, and how often should I do them?
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Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps to controlling diabetes. Smokers have a higher chance of developing diabetes than non-smokers due to the risk of insulin resistance. Cigarettes contain certain chemicals that make bodies resistant to insulin, a hormone that helps maintain blood sugar levels in our bodies.
The weight gain after quitting could be due to many causes and not necessarily diabetes; from hormonal imbalance to hunger pangs from nicotine de-addiction or withdrawal.
For checking blood sugar levels, you can take these three tests;
Fasting blood sugar: Calculated after 12 hours of fasting.
Postprandial (after food) blood sugar: Checked two hours after consuming food.
Random blood sugar: Checked randomly at any time.
Random blood sugar levels are not a suitable indicator of diabetes.
If your sugar levels are on a higher side, you can consult a doctor, and with proper medications and a healthy routine, you can reverse the condition. The doctor may also ask you to repeat tests every three months or six months based on the body’s response to the medication.
If the sugar levels are normal, you can choose to repeat this as a yearly check-up.
Read more about glycemic index.