March 29, 2011 - In lab experiments, researchers found that nicotine raised blood sugar levels and the more nicotine that was present, the higher the blood sugar levels were. This is particularly bad news for people with diabetes. “This study should encourage diabetics to quit smoking completely, and to realize that it’s the nicotine that’s raising [blood sugar levels],” study author Xiao-Chuan Liu, an associate professor in the department of chemistry at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. The study author also stressed the importance of limiting the use of nicotine replacement therapies and electronic cigarettes, as using these products long-term could do harm to diabetics.

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