Diabetic Patients Who Smoke: Are They Different?

Article Figures & Data

Table 1.

Demographic Characteristics of Respondents by Smoking Status (N = 1,352)

Characteristic	Smokers (n = 188)	Nonsmokers (n = 1,164)	P Value
Mean age (y)	52.6 ± 12.6	58.4 ± 14.8	<.001
Male, %	48.4	51.2	.48
White, %	90.4	91.0	.81
Education ≥ high school, %	56.9	64.1	.059
Married, %	67.6	71.5	.27
Employed for wages, %	59.0	43.9	<.001

Table 2.

Health Characteristics of Respondents by Smoking Status

Characteristic	Smokers (n = 188)	Nonsmokers (n = 1,164)	Pvalue	*Adjusted OR (95% CI)**	AdjustedPValue*
OR = odds ratio, CI = confidence interval, BMI = body mass index.
*Adjusted for age, sex, race, education, marital status, duration of diabetes, and type of survey, diabetes, and clinic.
Mean age at diagnosis (y)	42.8 ± 15.9	47.6 ± 17.8	<.001
Duration of diabetes (y)	9.7 ± 9.7	10.8 ± 9.9	.18
Use insulin, %	49.5	46.1	.40
Latest A_1c (n = 602)	8.3 (8.7*)	8.3 (8.9*)	.92		<.001
Fair or poor health, %	30.3	26.2		1.47 (1.03–2.10)	.033
Obese by BMI, %	38.0	41.5		0.68 (0.47–0.97)	.047
Diagnosed heart trouble, %	15.4	26.8		0.68 (0.44–1.07)	.093
Diagnosed hypertension, %	42.0	53.7		0.68 (0.49–0.95)	.024
Diagnosed high cholesterol, %	36.7	37.7		0.94 (0.68–1.31)	.72
Often feels depressed, %	27.7	17.2		1.72 (1.18–2.47)	.004
Mental health visit(s) in last year, %	19.2	10.5		1.72 (0.94–3.15)	.078

Table 3.

Reported Self-management by Smoking Status (N = 1,352)

Self-Management	Smokers	Nonsmokers	PValue	*Adjusted OR (95% CI)**	AdjustedPValue*
OR = odds ratio, CI = confidence interval, ASA = amino salicylic acid.
* Adjusted for age, sex, race, education, marital status, duration of diabetes, and type of survey, diabetes, and clinic.
Check blood glucose 2+/wk, %	59.0	67.2	.03	0.66 (0.47–0.91)	.013
Check feet ≥1/wk, %	67.0	67.4	.93	1.02 (0.73–1.43)	.92
Follow special diet, %	47.3	54.0	.09	0.82 (0.59–1.12)	.21
Cheat on diet weekly, %	65.2	71.5	.22	0.63 (0.38–1.03)	.066
Will start special diet in next month, %	15.2	15.3	.96	0.79 (0.42–1.49)	.47
Take ASA ≥ 3/wk, %	27.7	30.2	.47	1.28 (0.89–1.86)	.19
Always/usually takes diabetes medication as directed, %	76.6	81.8	.09	0.77 (0.52–1.15)	.20
Physical activity (d/wk)	4.6 ± 2.4 (4.4*)	4.9 ± 2.4 (4.9*)	.07		<.001
Will increase physical activity in next month, %	42.6	44.1	.70	0.88 (0.64–1.22)	.44
Strongly feels able to do the things needed for control, %	20.8	23.8	.37	0.85 (0.57–1.26)	.41
Doctor often asks take some responsibility for treatment, %	35.6	27.2	.02	1.36 (0.97–1.92)	.076

Table 4.

Reported Medical Care by Smoking Status (N = 1352)

Self-Management	Smokers	Nonsmokers	PValue	*Adjusted OR (95% CI)**	AdjustedPValue*
OR = odds ratio, CI = confidence interval.
* Adjusted for age, sex, race, education, marital status, duration of diabetes, and type of survey, diabetes, and clinic.
Visits per year for diabetes care, No.	2.5 ± 1.7 (2.7*)	2.8 ± 1.6 (3.0*)	.02		<.001
At least 1 diabetes visit in 1 y, %	87.2%	91.9%	.035	0.51 (0.31–0.83)	.008
HbA_1c tests in past year, No.	2.0 ± 1.5 (2.0*)	2.2 ± 1.6 (2.3*)	.09		.004
At least 1 HbA_1c test in 1 y, %	80.8%	83.8%	.32	0.66 (0.44–1.01)	.053
At least 1 foot check in 1 y, %	54.8%	65.0%	.007	0.69 (0.50–0.96)	.03
Dilated eye examination in 1 y, %	51.6%	63.8%	.001	0.66 (0.48–0.91)	.01
Routine check-up in 1 y, %	79.8%	85.3%	.05	0.75 (0.50–1.12)	.16
Cholesterol check in 1 y, %	72.3%	76.5%	.22	0.78 (0.55–1.11)	.17
Influenza shot in 1 y, %	57.4%	65.2%	.04	0.95 (0.67–1.32)	.74
Pneumonia shot ever, %	14.9%	22.8%	.014	0.79 (0.51–1.24)	.31
Dental check-up in 1 y, %	59.0%	70.5%	.002	0.59 (0.43–0.83)	.002
1 physician or nurse who takes care of diabetes, %	82.5%	89.8%	.003	0.58 (0.38–0.90)	.015

Table 5.

Social Support by Smoking Status (N = 1,352)

Help and Support	Smokers (%)	Nonsmokers (%)	PValue	*Adjusted OR (95% CI)**	AdjustedPValue*
OR = odds ratio, CI = confidence interval.
* Adjusted for age, sex, race, education, marital status, duration of diabetes, and type of survey, diabetes, and clinic.
Excellent care from health professionals	32.5	36.4	.29	0.90 (0.64–1.26)	.54
Family, friends support me
Following diet	32.5	41.3	.021	0.68 (0.48–0.96)	.028
Taking medicine	31.9	40.0	.034	0.67 (1.06–2.10)	.022
Caring for feet	22.3	27.3	.152	0.87 (0.59–1.27)	.046
Physical activity	25.5	36.9	.003	0.58 (0.40–0.83)	.003
Testing blood sugar	28.2	33.7	.138	0.76 (0.54–1.08)	.130
Feelings about diabetes	30.3	37.4	.062	0.68 (0.48–0.96)	.027
I want family and friend support for
Following diet	27.1	34.0	.062	0.63 (0.44–0.90)	.012
Taking medicine	16.5	23.0	.045	0.62 (0.41–0.95)	.029
Caring for feet	16.5	19.6	.320	0.82 (0.54–1.26)	.37
Physical activity	26.1	36.3	.006	0.53 (0.37–0.75)	<.001
Testing blood sugar	20.7	24.0	.330	0.74 (0.50–1.09)	.13
Feelings about diabetes	27.7	33.2	.130	0.62 (0.43–0.88)	.008
I feel an emotional bond with at least
1 person (agree/strongly agree)	85.1	82.7	.40	1.12 (0.71–1.76)	.63