Smokers who suffer from diabetes were found to have a higher mortality rate due to causes other than developing lung cancer. While the connection between this disease and the habit of smoking is thoroughly documented, scientists have also concluded that smoking in diabetes patients is even more harmful than otherwise.

The study was carried out at the University of Colorado, Denver, and it will be presented during the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, which will take place from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.

Smoking And Diabetes, More Dangerous Together

Diabetes consists of abnormally high glucose levels in the blood, and it is a condition that no less than 29 million people suffer from across the United States. The condition is on the rise, since the estimates for 2010 showed a number of 26 million people affected by the disease.

The situation is all the more dangerous as a quarter of those who suffer from this affection are not aware of it. This study links diabetes to smoking, which could lead to health complications in a number of other aspects.

In order to understand the relevance of the association between lung cancer and other cancer deaths across the United States on one part, and other causes among the smokers on another, the scientists analyzed the causes of death in people who suffered from diabetes and a control group that was not affected by this disease.

As part of the study, a National Lung Screening Trial was analyzed. The study included a comparison between low-dose helical CT and chest X-rays in the early detection of lung cancer; the analysis was carried out in current and former heavy smokers.

Diabetes - A Need For Awareness

"In our study, we found a statistically significant link between diabetes and all-cause deaths, non-lung cancer deaths and lung cancer deaths in women," noted Dr. Kavita Garg, radiology professor at the university and lead author of the study.

Diabetes was found to nearly double the risk of dying from non-lung cancer reasons among heavy smokers. Moreover, women who have diabetes have an even more increase risk of dying because of lung cancer, according to the data in the study.

The scientists who were in charge of the study will continue to conduct more analyses in order to better comprehend the underlying causes of these connections.

The researchers also emphasized the importance of awareness when it comes to diagnosing diabetes and treating it accordingly, which could contribute to significant health improvement in all kinds of patients, regardless of whether they are smokers or not.