Diabetes, smoking and how to stop

Why should I stop smoking now?

You will have been advised to stop smoking now that you have diabetes. Diabetes increases the possibilities of you suffering a heart attack or stroke. Adding smoking to diabetes doubles your risk of illness and death. If you are pregnant, smoking can harm your baby.

How can I stop smoking?

Giving up smoking is NOT easy. Thinking of how you will benefit may help

You'll save cash - plan to treat yourself
You'll feel fitter - no more puffing and panting
You'll look better - clearer skin, whiter teeth
You'll smell fresher
Your family and friends will be less at risk from passive smoking.

Did you know that 10 million people in Britain have stopped smoking AND STAYED STOPPED in the last 15 years? That's over 1,000 people every day.

Preparing to stop can take any time from days to years. This is the most important stage. If you really want to stop and prepare well you will succeed.

Stopping is your first change in behaviour to NOT SMOKING. This can change in just a day.

Staying stopped and thinking of yourself as a non-smoker takes longer. As time goes by, this will become easier and every day stopped is your success.

How can I succeed in stopping smoking?

Understand your own habits; smoking is strongly linked to certain times and situations. A break for tea or coffee, when the phone rings, a stressful situation can all encourage you to light up. Think about changing your habits. Then - make an action plan.

Make things as easy for yourself as possible.
Get support from your family and friends - even sponsorship. Tell everyone you have decided to stop and ask for suport and understanding.
Avoid places and situations where you know you'll want a cigarette.
Plan activities to replace smoking, like a new hobby or some other activity you've been thinking about.
Meet new faces and see new places.
Plan your meals - take time to enjoy them.
Use non-smoking areas when you eat out, travel and visit.
If you need something in your mouth, chew or nibble healthy, non-fattening bites. Try sugar-free chewing gum.
If you need to do something with your hands, find something to fiddle with - a pencil, a coin but not a cigarette.
Taking Vitamin C helps your body get rid of nicotine more quickly.
Talk to your dietician if you are concerned about putting on weight when you stop smoking.
Save your cigarette money - for an average smoker this could be over £50 a month. Six months off smoking and you've paid for a holiday.
Anticipate problems - think ahead to which situations will be difficult. Don't wait for them to happen - plan in advance how you'll cope.

Choose a day	The day before	Rewards
Choose a day when stopping will be less difficult for you. This may be when you are busy or working or it may be easier when you are relaxed at a weekend. Perhaps an easy date to remember - then you can celebrate your anniversaries in the future.	Review your plan. Get rid of cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters. Put your cigarette money aside for your holiday fund or give it to a member of your family or a friend to keep for you.	Plan a suitable reward at the end of the first day, the first week, the first month. Plan how you will spend your savings. Involve your family and friends in your plans.

Plan your first weeks and tailor your plan to making stopping smoking as easy for yourself as possible, taking on day at a time. If you start again, don't feel guilty. When you're ready, try again.

Quitline 0171 487 3000

Smoking advice line 0891 101 200

Will I become a non-smoker?

One day you will realise that you went the whole of the previous day without even thinking about cigarettes.

YOU'VE MADE IT, YOU HAVE BECOME A NON-SMOKER