Smoking and Glycemic Control in Type II Diabetes Patients in Northern Iraq

Smoking stands as the most significant preventable cause of death globally. This study aims to assess the prevalence of smoking and its impact on clinical indicators among individuals with type II diabetes in Sulaymaniyah, Northern Iraq.

This descriptive-analytical study involved 602 patients with type II diabetes in 2023. A simple random sampling method was employed, selecting patients with medical records from the diabetes center in Sulaymaniyah. Data were collected using a written questionnaire through interviews and analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS version 16.

The patients' mean age was 53.17 years (range: 30 to 77 years, standard deviation: 9.38 years). Approximately 31.7% of patients reported a history of smoking. Male gender (OR = 10.316) and urban residence (OR = 1.754) were predictors of smoking. Patients with a history of smoking exhibited significantly higher levels of Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) (P = 0.027) and body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.018).

The study revealed a higher prevalence of smoking among patients with diabetes in Northern Iraq compared to the global average. Smoking was associated with elevated FBS levels. These findings underscore the clinical significance of developing and implementing smoking cessation programs among individuals with type II diabetes.