Quitting smoking cuts your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 30-40%-WHO
The World Health Organization, WHO, in a new brief jointly developed with the International Diabetes Federation, IDF, and the University of Newcastle, unveiled that quitting smoking can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 30-40%.
This was revealed by WHO as the world joined the rest of the world to commemorate Diabetes Day on the theme, “Access to Diabetes Care”.
According to IDF, 537 million people have diabetes, a number that continues to rise making diabetes the ninth cause of deaths globally.
“Health professionals play a vital role in motivating and guiding individuals with type 2 diabetes in their journey to quit tobacco. Simultaneously, governments must take the crucial step of ensuring all indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport are completely smoke-free. These interventions are essential safeguards against the onset and progression of this and many other chronic diseases” Dr Ruediger Krech, WHO, Director of Health Promotion said.
Prof. Akhtar Hussain, President of the International Diabetes Federation also explained that; “The International Diabetes Federation strongly encourages people to stop smoking to reduce their risk of diabetes and, if they have diabetes, help avoid complications. We call on governments to introduce policy measures that will discourage people from smoking and remove tobacco smoke from all public spaces,”.
