FOR ANTIGO TIMES

November is American Diabetes Month, an annual observance that brings attention to the disease affecting more than one in 10 Wisconsin adults. This year, the Langlade County Health Department reminds the public that smoking is one of the leading risk factors for type 2 diabetes. It is also known that quitting can help lower your risk of developing diabetes or if you have diabetes, help you better manage the disease.

People who smoke are 30-40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those that do not, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, people with diabetes who smoke are more likely than nonsmokers to encounter difficulties with insulin dosing and managing their disease.

“If you are a smoker or a smoker with diabetes, quitting smoking will benefit your health right away.” Says Meghan Williams, Health Officer, Langlade County Health Department.

According to the Centers for Disease Control the good news is that quitting smoking can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes, or if you already have type 2 diabetes, quitting can help you get better control over your blood sugar, and help your insulin be more effective as quickly as eight weeks after quitting.

Free resources are available to help tobacco users quit. People who are ready to be tobacco free can call the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT NOW (784-8669). If they’re on Medicaid, they can also talk to their doctor about the free support provided by the Medicaid Cessation benefit.

There are other steps that you can take to also manage your diabetes or risk of developing diabetes which include, managing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing stress, and taking medication prescribed to you.

For more information about Langlade County Health Department’s programs and services, visit https://www.co.langlade.wi.us/departments/health-department/ or like us on Facebook.