Insulin Resistance and NRTs

[Anima]

I just found the worst news. It seems that nicotine itself (not just cigarettes) causes insulin resistance. Here's a link to a study done on long-term users of nicotine gum that looks pretty legit. This gives me enough pause to start gradually lowering my nic levels, but I am dismayed. Nicotine works very well for ADHD and enhances my mood.

I wonder if a supplement that enhances insulin sensitivity (e.g. green tea) would offset the insulin resistance. For example, caffeine also causes insulin resistance, but coffee has other ingredients that effect glucose metabolism which counteract it.

Sad Christmas.

 

[telsie]

That's informative, but not alarming. Can't long term use of cheeseburgers and fries also cause insulin resistance?

We'll no doubt see more studies done on this now, but I'm sure it's about moderation. Long term use of higher levels of nicotine combined with less-than-optimal lifestyle is probably a risk factor, not a YOU WILL DEVELOP THIS kind of thing. Modern living has created a lot of health problems and we just have to learn to modify our lives to counteract them by exercising more and eating better.

One thing to keep in mind is that whatever risk nicotine might be in developing insulin problems, that risk was already on us as smokers. So at the very worst, this might be one risk we don't get to leave behind when switching from tobacco cigarettes to e-cigarettes (unless we drop to zero nic, but even then, maybe the risk is already in place from years of nicotine use as a smoker?).

I've got a doctor's visit coming up (yearly check-up and blood work), so I'll ask about this insulin resistance thing. My doc's usually up on the latest medical news.

 

[Anima]

... Can't long term use of cheeseburgers and fries also cause insulin resistance?

Yes, diet causes insulin resistance, but I don't plan on eating a strict junk food diet for the rest of my life. I had planned on vaping long-term. Hence my upset.

We'll no doubt see more studies done on this now, but I'm sure it's about moderation. Long term use of higher levels of nicotine combined with less-than-optimal lifestyle is probably a risk factor, not a YOU WILL DEVELOP THIS kind of thing. Modern living has created a lot of health problems and we just have to learn to modify our lives to counteract them by exercising more and eating better.

The study indicated that all of the long-term users of nicotine gum had lower insulin sensitivity, and the more gum they chewed the less sensitivity they had. They did control for age and BMI, but acknowledged that there may be other lifestyle factors that separated the gum users from the controls, but it seems to me that since the degree that they lacked insulin sensitivity was directly correlated to blood levels of nicotine that it is more than a mere risk factor.

... maybe the risk is already in place from years of nicotine use as a smoker?

Certainly smoking causes insulin resistance, but it is reversible (normal 8 weeks later). I'm sure if I have IR that it developed when I smoked, but vaping nicotine could be preventing its reversal.

I've got a doctor's visit coming up (yearly check-up and blood work), so I'll ask about this insulin resistance thing. My doc's usually up on the latest medical news.

That would be awesome. Could you ask about what could be done to mitigate it and what levels of nicotine she or he thinks could be used without issues? I would rather vape low nic juice and jog every day than switch to 0 nic.

 

[telsie]

Yes, diet causes insulin resistance, but I don't plan on eating a strict junk food diet for the rest of my life. I had planned on vaping long-term. Hence my upset.

The study indicated that all of the long-term users of nicotine gum had lower insulin sensitivity, and the more gum they chewed the less sensitivity they had. They did control for age and BMI, but acknowledged that there may be other lifestyle factors that separated the gum users from the controls, but it seems to me that since the degree that they lacked insulin sensitivity was directly correlated to blood levels of nicotine that it is more than a mere risk factor.

What I was getting at is let's say we vape a low level of nicotine forever but have a healthier diet than someone else who uses no nicotine. Our insulin resistance might be comparable. That doesn't mean it's okay, but it's also not doom. The eventual result probably rests more in the totality of risk factors for developing disease related to insulin resistance.

Certainly smoking causes insulin resistance, but it is reversible (normal 8 weeks later). I'm sure if I have IR that it developed when I smoked, but vaping nicotine could be preventing its reversal.

The insulin resistance being reversible is certainly a plus. From everything we know, electronic cigarettes are safe to use, but I don't think anyone would argue that it's "healthy". What we're doing is just a lot healthier than what we were doing before.

That would be awesome. Could you ask about what could be done to mitigate it and what levels of nicotine she or he thinks could be used without issues? I would rather vape low nic juice and jog every day than switch to 0 nic.

Will do. My appointment is a week away, but I'll definitely bring this up and report back.

By the way, I don't mean to sound like I'm being light about all this. But being smoke-free for 2 years after 23 years of smoking is so amazing that I'd be content for now to find out I'm a little insulin resistant (if we all are). If my doctor sounds a warning bell, I'll change my tune, of course Short of that, my approach is this: if I ever start to develop symptoms of insulin resistance, then I'll know I should exercise more, eat better and give up nicotine.

 

[telsie]

Reporting back because I asked my doctor about this today. He hadn't heard about the study, but based on his own experience with patients smoking and non-smoking patients, he's never seen any indication of a direct correlation between nicotine use and insulin resistance.

 

[Anima]

Reporting back because I asked my doctor about this today. He hadn't heard about the study, but based on his own experience with patients smoking and non-smoking patients, he's never seen any indication of a direct correlation between nicotine use and insulin resistance.

My thanks for the update. Unfortunately, controlled studies trump anecdotal evidence (not that I totally discount it, as I do believe that the plurality of anecdote counts as data). I think that what we can conclude is that people who are diabetic or at risk for heart disease should consider limiting nicotine intake, but - as always - vaping is far better than smoking any day.

As for me, I think I will try to lower my nicotine gradually (like over the next six months), but I will probably always keep a little 12 mg/ml juice on hand for when I need it. That's the plan, but if it's a choice between ADHD symptoms that need treatment with medication (a PITA and side-effects of its own) and depressed mood that needs medication (nightmare), I think I'll go with nicotine and its risk of insulin resistance. Don't want to live forever...