Vapes are often marketed as a ‘safer’ option to smoking as many individuals in the UK still smoke cigarettes. However, a recent study conducted by the University of Georgia has highlighted that vaping comes with its own set of risks.
The study, analyzing 1.2 million data points, aimed to understand the relationship between smoking, e-cigarette use, prediabetes, and diabetes. While traditional smoking increased the risk of prediabetes by 15%, vaping was not far behind, showing a 7% increased risk along with worsened insulin resistance and weight gain in users.
Moreover, the combined use of smoking and vaping elevated the risk to 28%. Despite approximately 5.5 million people in the UK using vapes, they may be unknowingly predisposing themselves to health issues like unexplained weight loss, itchiness, increased thirst, and fatigue — all indicative of type 2 diabetes.
The lead author of the study, Sulakshan Neupane, emphasized the importance of understanding the broader health impacts of e-cigarettes, beyond just lung health, on metabolic well-being. Furthermore, the research identified certain population groups, such as Hispanic, Black, and Asian individuals, as well as those overweight or obese, to be at a higher risk of prediabetes and diabetes.
Neupane stressed the significance of these findings in shaping public health strategies to combat smoking and enhance diabetes outcomes. For individuals concerned about diabetes symptoms, seeking medical advice is advised. Additionally, a two-minute risk assessment test is available on the Diabetes UK website, which requires a tape measure and scale for accurate results, focusing on obesity and waist circumference as risk factors. This assessment is suitable for individuals over 18, excluding pregnant women due to result unreliability.