Smoking/tobacco use behaviours of people after they were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes

The study investigated cigarette / tobacco use behaviors and factors affecting these behaviors in individuals after they were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The sample of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of individuals with type 2 diabetes aged 20 years or older who were smoking when diabetes was diagnosed (n=150). A questionnaire form prepared by the researcher and the Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Scale were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed in the SPSS-22 program at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level. It was determined that the average age of initiation of cigarette smoking was 18.15 ± 5.2 years (minimum-maximum: 6-34 years). After the diabetes diagnosis, 33.3% of the cases were not asked whether they were using cigarettes; 89.3% of them did not receive any education about the harms of the cigarette; 44.6% of the cases had stopped smoking, 19.3% had decreased the amount, and 36% had continued to smoke in the same way. Average of smoking cigarettes consumed in one day was found to be significantly higher in the individuals who quit smoking after the diagnosis (26.42±16.82 piece), who is reducing the amount of smoking (24.10±15.55 piece) and individuals who do not change the amount of cigarettes they use (19.52±9.94 piece) (p=0,03). It was determined that passive smoking rate was higher in the individuals who did not change their smoking habits than the other groups (p>0,001). It was determined that professional help giving to those people did not significantly affect smoking cessation, but also it was highlighted that the rate of receiving professional help for smoking cessation was low in all cases (%8,6). In conclusion, the rate of evaluation and professional guidance for smoking in individuals with diabetes was low, a large part of individuals continued to smoke after diabetes diagnosis and that they did not receive sufficient education about the harms of smoking. Individuals with diabetes should be assessed for smoking as a routine care and follow-up, smoking cessation counseling should be given, and both individuals with diabetes and health professionals should be aware of this issue.