Nicotine can raise A1C

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Nicotine Can Raise A1c by 34 Percent

Strong link between nicotine and diabetes complications....

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Scientists have reported the first strong evidence implicating nicotine as

the main culprit responsible for persistently elevated blood sugar levels --

and the resulting increased risk of serious health complications -- in

people who have diabetes and smoke.

The discovery also may have implications for people with diabetes who are

using nicotine-replacement therapy for extended periods in an attempt to

stop smoking.

Xiao-Chuan Liu, Ph.D., who presented the results stated that, " This is an

important study and it is the first study to establish a strong link between

nicotine and diabetes complications. If you're a smoker and have diabetes,

you should be concerned and make every effort to quit smoking. "

Doctors have known for years that smoking increases the risk of developing

complications. Studies also show that smokers with diabetes have higher

levels of HbA1c than nonsmokers with diabetes. However, nobody knew the

exact substance in cigarette smoke responsible for the elevation in HbA1c.

Liu and colleagues suspected it may be nicotine and set out to check

nicotine's effects on HbA1c. Using human blood samples, they showed that

concentrations of nicotine similar to those found in the blood of smokers

did, indeed, raise levels of HbA1c.

" Nicotine caused levels of HbA1c to rise by as much as 34 percent, " said

Liu, who is with California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Calif.

" No one knew this before. The higher the nicotine levels, the more HbA1c is

produced. "

Doctors could use data from this study as a new basis for encouraging

patients with diabetes to quit smoking, Liu said. What about nicotine

patches, electronic cigarettes, and other stop-smoking products? Liu pointed

out that people tend to use those products for only brief periods, and that

the benefits of permanently stopping smoking may outweigh any risk from

temporary elevations in HbA1c. However, the study may raise concern over the

long term use of such products, he added.

Presented at the 241st National Meeting & Exposition of the American

Chemical Society

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