new member intro / cigs are bad for diabetics lol! duh

[Brewmaster B]

Hi all! I thought I would introduce myself here as I am new to this vaping world in general, but I find myself diving in headfirst. I smoked cigarettes for about 15 years. Was diagnosed as a type1 diabetic 10 years ago. Yeah dumb I know to keep smoking.. but I was hooked. About 4 weeks ago I decided to really try electronic cigs. Here's the part you probably hear alot... bought cheapos from gas stations, kinda worked... enough to make me interested. Looked about the net and found a decent starter kit and some clearomizers. OK better ... but didn't dig on the clearo's so much.. kept digging.. booyah some dual coil cartotanks and I'm a pretty happy vaper.

One thing I noticed right off the bat when I switched to ecigs from analogs as an insulin-dependent diabetic (and when I say switched I mean I didn't touch one more cigarette from then on, and still have not) is that my blood sugar was suddenly controllable... like it had never been before! I vape my head off happily and blood sugar stays steady around 90-140. Which is amazing considering daily I was spiking up to 250-300 ...
Man I was stupid... feel free to rib me for that 10 years of stupidity ECF! I will laugh along because I am not going back to smoke ever again.

I think one of the things that attracted me to this hobby(? I guess it is a hobby) is the flavor, and the creation of the flavor, how that transports you and can bring you to different places. In my life, my love and my business is all about flavor. I brew beer daily, and own (along with a cousin) a small brewpub. It is quite small (60 gallon batches) but this allows me to be creative and experiment, as I really have to brew alot of small separate batches to provide enough beer for our 8 taps and almost a dozen local bars/restaurants.

I can see myself getting into the juice side of this hobby... and I'm very interested to start looking into natural extracts of tobaccos and other herbs, whatever works! If anyone can throw a pointer or two in this direction I would love it. I use a small lab and have lots of things that might make the process happen!

Hope yall have a great day

Cheers all!

 

[yotasavg]

Welcome and awesome intro! I really want to get into some homebrewing at some point. I didn't realize that smoking had an affect on diabetics. Can you explain why it was messing up your blood sugar? I'm just curious cause I know quite a few diabetic smokers around my age and I'm not even sure they know that... but they obviously should be vaping

 

[Boiler]

Diabetes and e-cigarettes is a topic that comes up often. Glad to have you around to share your experiences.

 

[pkj]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your decision to vape. This forum has quite a bit of info about NET (naturally extracted tobacco). The search feature at ECF will provide you with loads of info.
Happy Vaping,
Paula

 

[Brewmaster B]

I really cannot explain it yotasavg... Perhaps it was just stressing my body out? I smoked about a pack a day when I quit... I had always been told that I shouldn't smoke as a diabetic because it increased the risk of certain things like heart disease, which are already at greater risk being diabetic. I never heard before that it would directly affect blood sugar, and maybe it doesn't... but this is 4 weeks in and the blood sugar is still so much closer to normal. Needless to say I am super happy about this, feel great, and it reinforces my commitment not to smoke

 

[DuckysBooBoo]

Hi and welcome fellow Tennessean....Congrats and good luck!!

 

[jpwr25]

Welcome, and very interesting intro! I homebrew and have always daydreamed about opening a brewpub. I could definitely see that helping you into the DIY arena!

 

[GGidaho32]

Welcome to the forum Brewmaster. I too quit smoking analogs because of my risk of heart disease due to genetics and the fact I was insulrin resistant. I don't have to check my blood, but I can say that with vaping my sweet tooth is not as strong as it used to be due to awesome sweet fruity flavors. I thoroughly think that nicotine has many benefits and some that have been reported is the relief from mental related issues, anxiety, depression, etc. Some also suggest it can help curb hunger and help you lose weight. Its great to hear about your blood sugar seeming to be regulated with vaping. Hope that remains to be the case. Enjoy your stay.

-Gerrit

 

[patkin]

Same story although I've been T2 for 40 years... on and off meds, little to no carbs, etc. I had no idea smoking was causing such a problem until I started vaping. My A1c went from 6.8 to 5.7 (two weeks ago after six months vaping) so I'm one happy camper who can now have some fries with everyone else. Not taking insulin, I haven't been able to eat those in 25 years.... not even 6 of them. Also the weight loss that came with vaping has been a bonus... and eating carbs no less! And no, weight loss is not the reason for the controlled blood sugars. I've been way under weight and slightly over weight over the 40 years and sugars didn't change... well maybe slightly but not enough to chalk it up to weight changes. They really need to get on this and do some research to find out why this is. I'm sure there's something about diabetes they don't know. Sure, they know the heart risks etc smoking with diabetes but I have not heard of any research into a smoking/blood sugar connection. Well, except for the "vaping will raise a diabetic's blood sugar"... in a pig's eye! Not in my body.

As for DIY, that is such a huge subject that it would be best to step over to the DIY section and check out all the info there and post any questions specific to that. That's where I hang out quite a bit. You can ask more specific stuff and list what you already have. Super nice folks will give you lots of help.

 

[StevesCVO]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on making such a positive change in your life.

 

[yotasavg]

I really cannot explain it yotasavg... Perhaps it was just stressing my body out? I smoked about a pack a day when I quit... I had always been told that I shouldn't smoke as a diabetic because it increased the risk of certain things like heart disease, which are already at greater risk being diabetic. I never heard before that it would directly affect blood sugar, and maybe it doesn't... but this is 4 weeks in and the blood sugar is still so much closer to normal. Needless to say I am super happy about this, feel great, and it reinforces my commitment not to smoke

Well thanks for trying lol! Anyway at least you're feeling healthier cause that's what it's all about!

 

[Flyer]

I had the opposite experience when I first started vaping (using BLU menthol) - I spiked like crazy in my daily testing. I stopped vaping for a while then tried an EGO-C with non menthol juice, no glucose spikes. Was I ever happy! I don't know if it was the menthol or something else in the BLU juice that caused my problem. I definitely have not noticed improvements in my A!C's since vaping, but at least they are now no worse than when I was smoking cigars. Good luck!

 

[chellemmm]

Welcome! I, too, am an insulin dependent diabetic. I have also noticed that my blood sugar levels have decreased DRAMATICALLY since I have quit smoking cigarettes and started vaping. I assumed it was because I was not sneaking sugar/carbs! I vape my sweets now, instead of sneakily eating them. I have also lost a couple of pounds, so it really is a bonus!

 

[Brewmaster B]

Very interesting replies and thanks all for the warm welcome!
Flyer, are you type 2? or type 1? I heard from someone that the artificial sweeteners contained in some ejuices (and wherever you might encounter them) have the effect of "fooling" the pancreas into doing what it shouldn't be doing. For type 1 I would guess it would not be the case, as the pancreas is not producing insulin at all.

I don't stick with any of the sweet juices I've tried so I couldn't say for myself if its the case.

I am very happy to see that many of you diabetics share this experience!

Now... to continue to work towards the perfect BEER VAPE!

 

[yotasavg]

Now... to continue to work towards the perfect BEER VAPE!

Like a hoppy double IPA.... that would be a good vape

 

[Thayamax]

I've been a Type 2 diabetic for 20 years and just started taking insulin along with meds this year. I don't know if vaping is affecting my blood sugar or not since I also gave up a lifetime habit of drinking non-diet Pepsi at the same time. That has REALLY dropped my blood sugar! If I'm able to keep up not drinking Pepsi and continue vaping sweets instead of eating them, I just might be able to get off the insulin!

 

[Kloyn]

I agree. it is all about flavor for me as well. As a wine and beer colelctor, I am fascinated by the experience of flavor and vaping provides additional and exciting dimension