People who smoke traditional cigarettes, use e-cigarettes, or do both may face a higher risk of developing diabetes, according to new research from the University of Georgia.
The study, published in AJPM Focus, found that smokers were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with prediabetes and diabetes compared with nonsmokers.
The findings come at a time when e-cigarettes are often promoted as a safer alternative to tobacco.
But researchers say the results suggest vaping may carry hidden risks that go beyond lung health.
“This is not just about the lungs anymore but the entire body and metabolic health,” said Sulakshan Neupane, lead author and doctoral student in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
E-cigarette use has surged in recent years, particularly among younger people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that vaping is now widespread among teens and young adults.
If the new findings hold true, the researchers warn, rising e-cigarette use could drive up future rates of diabetes in these groups.
The team analyzed more than 1.2 million survey responses from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. They examined the relationship between cigarette use, vaping, and diabetes diagnoses.
The results showed that vaping was linked to a 7 percent increase in the risk of prediabetes. Although that may seem like a modest rise, it could mean an additional 7,000 new cases each year in the United States.
Traditional cigarette smoking posed an even greater danger, raising the risk of prediabetes by 15 percent. For those who both smoked and vaped, the risk was highest of all—28 percent. Dual users also had greater odds of being diagnosed with diabetes itself, not just prediabetes.
The study found that risk varied across groups. Hispanic, Black, and Asian people who smoked or vaped were more likely to develop diabetes than white individuals.
People living with low incomes faced a 12 percent higher risk, possibly because of the combined effects of stress and higher rates of smoking or drinking. Being overweight or obese further increased the odds of developing diabetes among smokers and vapers.
Despite these risks, the research pointed to one hopeful finding. Regular exercise reduced the likelihood of prediabetes for smokers by 8 percent, suggesting that lifestyle changes can help offset some of the harm caused by tobacco or e-cigarette use.
Neupane emphasized that the study highlights an urgent public health concern. With vaping on the rise, he said, it is critical to understand its long-term consequences and take steps to prevent diabetes in vulnerable populations.
The message is clear: vaping may not be the safe alternative many believe it to be, and when combined with smoking, the risks to metabolic health only multiply.
Source: University of Georgia.
