Quitting smoking now part of diabetes care

World's first guidelines released; quitting no longer just lifestyle advice, doctors get practical roadmap

IV Report

KARACHI: For millions living with type 2 diabetes in Pakistan, doctors will no longer just tell them to "quit smoking" and leave it there. Quitting must now be treated and supported as part of their medical care itself — not as mere general lifestyle advice.

This is the core message of the world's first dedicated international guidelines for smoking cessation in people with type 2 diabetes, released this week.

The international consensus recommendations, published in the leading journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, have been developed by 35 experts from 13 countries, including Pakistan. The guidelines provide a practical roadmap for doctors and diabetes clinics on how to help patients stop smoking, manage temporary changes in blood sugar, weight and blood pressure after quitting, and cut the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious complications.

Smoking and diabetes together form a dangerous combination. While quitting greatly reduces risks, patients often face challenges in the first weeks after quitting — a key reason why structured medical support, behavioural counselling and regular follow-up are being recommended.

In Pakistan, where diabetes is placing a heavy burden on families and the health system, the guidelines carry special relevance.

Prof Abdul Basit, Director, Indus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center (IDEC), Indus Hospital & Health Network and Secretary General, Diabetic Association of Pakistan, said:

“Smoking and diabetes are a dangerous combination, and the health consequences can be devastating. For people living with diabetes, quitting smoking is not simply a lifestyle choice — it is an important step towards protecting the heart, blood vessels and overall health. These new guidelines are important because they give healthcare professionals a clear and practical way to support patients through the quitting process, rather than simply telling them to stop smoking.”

The recommendations call for making smoking cessation a routine part of diabetes management for every patient who smokes, regardless of nicotine dependence or past quit attempts, combining appropriate treatment with structured behavioural support.

Doctors are advised to review patients in the early weeks after quitting, monitor blood sugar, weight and blood pressure, and adjust medicines where needed. Prof Basit added: “In Pakistan, we need to move from simply advising people to quit towards actually helping them quit. Every successful quit attempt can mean a lower risk of serious complications and a healthier future for the patient and their family.”

The guidelines were developed by the DiaSmokeFree Working Group, a multidisciplinary collaboration involving experts in diabetes, cardiometabolic medicine, internal medicine and behavioural science from five continents. The initiative was conceived and coordinated by the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Italy.

The group will now develop practical tools for clinics and patients, including clinical guidance, follow-up tools and educational materials for use in diabetes clinics and primary care settings worldwide, said a press release.

Illustration: AI-generated

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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