An international panel of experts has issued the world’s first dedicated recommendations on quitting smoking for people with type 2 diabetes, calling for cessation support to become a routine part of diabetes care.

Published recently in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, the recommendations provide clinicians with guidance on treatment, behavioural support, relapse prevention and monitoring patients after they quit.

The initiative was coordinated by the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) at the University of Catania. A panel of 35 experts from 13 countries developed 34 evidence-informed recommendations through an international consensus process, according to a CoEHAR press release.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body does not use insulin effectively, causing blood sugar levels to rise. It is the most common form of diabetes and is often linked to lifestyle.

Smoking substantially increases the risk of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and other complications in people with type 2 diabetes.

Quitting reduces these risks but can cause short-term changes in glycaemic control, body weight, blood pressure and drug metabolism.

Although leading organisations advise people with diabetes not to smoke, clinicians have lacked comprehensive, diabetes-specific guidance on treatment selection, behavioural support, relapse prevention, post-cessation metabolic monitoring and drug-smoking interactions.

“The recommendations therefore position cessation as a structured, personalised clinical process -- not simply lifestyle advice,” the press release said.

Aliya Naheed, a senior scientist at icddr,b, was among the 35 experts involved in developing the recommendations.

Talking to The Daily Star today, she said quitting smoking should be treated as an integral part of diabetes care rather than simply as lifestyle advice.

“Smoking cessation should be approached as a clinical treatment, with healthcare professionals helping patients quit step by step and monitoring their progress. Simply telling a patient to stop smoking is not enough; they need guidance and support throughout the process,” she said.

Smoking damages small blood vessels and increases the risk of complications such as high blood pressure, kidney disease and cardiovascular problems among people with diabetes, she said.