Second-hand smoke linked to higher diabetes risk - study

(Source: Reuters News, 11 March 2011)
Cigarette smoke is tied to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, for both smokers and the people around them, a study said. And the more second-hand smoke people are exposed to, the greater their risk of the disease, which results from insulin resistance -- in which cells fail to use insulin properly -- sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency, according to the study, published in "Diabetes Care."

"Accumulating evidence has identified a positive association between active smoking and the risk of diabetes, but previous studies had limited information on passive smoking or changes in smoking behaviour over time," wrote John Forman at Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston, who led the study. Read more