Inhaler's and quitting smoking increase diabetes risk

What’s good for your lungs may increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.That’s the gist of two recent studies suggesting asthma inhalers and smoking cessation increase the risk of developing diabetes.
 
According to research from the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital, patients who use inhaled corticosteroids, most often prescribed for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a chronic (lifelong) illness.
 
For asthmatics, however, the benefits of inhaled corticosteroids outweigh the risks. Types of these medications include fluticasone (Flonase®, Advair®), budesonide (Pulmicort®, Rhinocort®) and beclometasone (QVAR®, Beclovent®). Oral corticosteroids have long been associated with diabetes risk, but this is the first time inhaled forms have been associated with the disease.
 
COPD patients, however, may want to abstain from using inhalers unless absolutely necessary (with consent of their doctor, of course.)
 
“We recommend that physicians reserve the use of inhaled steroids for the patients who truly benefit from these medications, namely asthmatics, and curb their use in COPD to the few patients for whom they are indicated,” said Dr. Samy Suissa, director of the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology at the LDI and lead author of the study. “In all cases, patients using high doses should be assessed for possible hyperglycemia and the lowest effective dose targeted.”
 
Another lung benefit – quitting smoking, of all things –
may also increase risk of diabetes in the short term. Researchers at Johns Hopkins suspect the risk is related to the extra weight former smokers tend to pack on following their successful stab at quitting.
 
Study leader Hsin-Chieh “Jessica” Yeh urges smokers to quit but cautioned those who do to watch their weight. In the long term, of course, smoking actually increases diabetes risk. (The clear message here seems to be: don’t ever start smoking!)
 
Another culprit in the risk for type 2 diabetes (the most common form of diabetes) is one most can relate to. Who doesn’t enjoy an ice-cold Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper on occasion? Recent research from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) points to increased diabetes risk connected to sodas and other drinks with high sugar content.
 
“Our study, which is a pooled analysis of the [previously] available studies, provides an overall picture of the magnitude of risk and the consistency of the evidence,” said lead author Vasanti Malik of the link between sugary drinks to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors (high blood pressure, excess body fat around the waist and others) that increase risk of other diseases.
 
Diabetes – the seventh leading cause of death in the United States – occurs when the body cannot properly process and absorb blood sugar (glucose) from the circulation into the body's tissues.
 
The usual suspects play the biggest role in the risk of developing diabetes. Advanced age, infrequent physical activity, poor diet and excess body weight around the waist significantly increase your risk. But as a precautionary measure, stay away from those convenience store Big Gulps, too (especially if you’ve just quit smoking!).