Passive smoking as an independent risk factor for gestational diabetes that synergizes with prepregnancy obesity in urban Chinese women

Abstract

There are high-priority public health and legislative efforts around the world to reduce smoking and to reduce the spaces where smoking is allowable. These efforts are aimed at minimizing not only the adverse health effects of active smoking but also the adverse health effects of passive cigarette smoke exposure. While many cultures and societies make protection of a pregnant woman and her about-to-be-born-newborn a priority, the importance of protecting them from passive smoking that is prevalent in many modern societies has not been reported. The article by Leng et al, “Passive smoking increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus independently and synergistically with prepregnancy obesity in Tianjin, China,” newly published in Diabetes Metabolism Research and Reviews, provides evidence that passive smoke inhalation during pregnancy makes gestational diabetes more likely, bringing with it negative health consequences for the mother and her baby. This study will hopefully add support to public health officials’ efforts to curb cigarette use, especially in public domains.

Effects of passive smoking and its duration on the prevalence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese women

“…However, when the duration of passive smoking exceeds 10 years, it may aggravate carbohydrate and lipid metabolism disorders, and is a risk factor for IFG, IGT, and T2DM, moreover, there was a time-dependent relationship between the duration of passive smoking and its effect on IFG, IGT, and T2DM. These results are consistent with those of previous studies [25,26], although previous studies did not explore the effect of passive smoking duration [10,[26][27][28].…”

Review of the role of cigarette smoking in diabetic foot

“…This risk factor correlates with many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and lung diseases. The associations between cigarette smoking and risks of pre‐diabetes, gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease or even mortality in diabetes patients have been confirmed by many studies. Active smokers had a much lower mean age at amputation compared with non‐smokers, and smoking cessation improved amputation‐free survival in diabetes patients.…”

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Harbinger of the Vicious Cycle of Diabetes

“…A few studies have determined that prolonged exposure to environmental psychological stress is related to maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy, which may increase the risk of GDM [ 63 ]. Similarly, the use of antidepressant and psychotropic medications, smoking, and poor sleep hygiene have also been shown to be risk factors for GDM [ 64 , 65 , 66 ].…”

“…Similarly, the use of antidepressant and psychotropic medications, smoking, and poor sleep hygiene have also been shown to be risk factors for GDM [64][65][66].…”