Tabaquismo y diabetes mellitus: evidencia científica e implicancias en salud pública / Smoking and diabetes mellitus: scientific evidence and public helath implications

ABSTRACT

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Among them, diabetes has been identified as the condition causing more disabilities, being blindness, kidney failure and limb amputation the major causes. The literature indicates that these diseases are explained by four factors unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco smoking and hazardous alcohol consumption. Of these risk factors, tobacco consumption is being studied lately as a risk condition for diabetes, finding in the international literature several studies that confirm a causal association between both and a dose-response as well. Several mechanisms have been proposed by which the association would be possible, pointing out to a connection with a release of insulin hormone antagonist, a decrease of the insulin sensitivity and high blood levels of FFA, hypotheses that need to be tested in detail. Various international organizations have called for action to prevent NCDs and their risk factors. Among this, the prevention and cessation of tobacco smoking gain great relevance in the country, since the new law protects from exposure to second hand tobacco smoke. At clinical level, one of the challenges that need to be faced is the implementation of smoking cessation programs.