Vaping & Smoking Increase Diabetes Risk, Study Finds

People who use e-cigarettes (vapes), traditional cigarettes, or both, face a significantly increased risk of developing prediabetes and diabetes, according to new research from the University of Georgia (UGA). The study, published in AJPM Focus, highlights that even as e-cigarettes are often marketed as a “safer” alternative, they may carry a hidden peril for metabolic health.

“In an era when e-cigarettes are marketed as a ‘safer’ alternative to smoking, this suggests they may carry a hidden peril and may be quietly contributing to long-term health problems like prediabetes and diabetes,” said Sulakshan Neupane, lead author of the study and a doctoral student at UGA. “This is not just about the lungs anymore but the entire body and metabolic health.”

Utilizing over 1.2 million data points from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, the researchers analyzed the correlation between e-cigarette and traditional smoking use and diagnoses of prediabetes and diabetes. The findings were significant:

• Vaping alone was associated with a 7% increased risk of prediabetes. Researchers suggest this may be due to e-cigarette use potentially causing short-term insulin resistance and weight gain, both known risk factors.
• Smoking traditional cigarettes raised the risk of prediabetes to 15%.
• Dual use (vaping and smoking) was linked to the greatest risk, increasing the likelihood of developing prediabetes by 28%.

The study also found that users of both cigarettes and e-cigarettes had higher odds (7% and 9% respectively) of being diagnosed with full-blown diabetes as well. “E-cigarette use alone elevates the likelihood of prediabetes, with dual use conferring an additional risk,” Neupane stated.

While a 7% increased risk from vaping alone might seem small, the authors note it translates to an additional 7,000 cases of prediabetes each year in the U.S. based on current rates. This is particularly concerning given the rising popularity of vaping, especially among youth.

The research also identified demographic and health factors that could further elevate the risk. Being overweight or obese while smoking increased the chances of developing these conditions. Hispanic, Black, and Asian individuals who smoked or vaped were more likely to be diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes than their white counterparts. People in lower-income categories also faced a higher risk (12%), which Neupane suggests may be linked to using nicotine products to cope with mental stress.

However, the study did find a mitigating factor: regular exercise was shown to cut the risk of prediabetes for smokers by 8%, offering a potential pathway for risk reduction. The findings underscore the need for public health efforts to address the metabolic risks of all forms of nicotine consumption, not just the well-documented respiratory and cardiovascular dangers.