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Smoke-Free Living and Diabetes

Health Benefits

Everyone who quits smoking benefits in many ways. A longer life, more energy, and less chance of increasing resistance to insulin are some of the potential benefits.

More benefits are listed below. Most of these benefits are experienced by everyone. If you have diabetes, some benefits are very important. Benefits for people with diabetes are listed in bold type.

Blood Work Benefits

  • A1c (3-month average blood glucose)
  • Blood glucose
  • Total cholesterol
  • LDL (bad) cholesterol
  • Triglycerides (fats)
  • HDL (good) cholesterol
  • Oxygen
  • Carbon monoxide

 General Benefits

  • More money 
  • Fresher breath
  • No odor of stale smoke
  • Self-esteem
  • Freedom
  • Cleanliness

If You Want Help to Stop Smoking

  • Classes may be available in your community. Call 1-800-553-UPMC (8762) to find out more.
  • If you are an inpatient at a UPMC hospital:
        • Ask your nurse if the hospital has the UPMC patient education TV channel, which features a video about quitting smoking.
        • Ask to talk one-on-one with a smoking cessation counselor.
  •  Go to UPMC’s Patient Education website. Under the Smoking category is Journey to a Smoke Free Life, a 42-page guide that can help you devise a successful strategy to quit smoking, as well as other materials about the dangers of smoking and other health topics. You can print out any or all of these materials.
  • Additional resources are available from the toll-free Pennsylvania Department of Health Quit Line. Call 1-877-724-1090.

                                                                                                                               Reviewed January 2011

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