Vaping and Diabetes

[bikerbeagle]

So ...yeah, I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes back at the beginning of June - a relatively minor case (if you can call diabetes "minor") - and have been successfully managing it with diet and exercise. This is what brought me (back) to quitting cigarettes and vaping.

All in all, I've been doing fairly well, but I've noticed that my trending levels have gone up a fairly significant amount (about 10 pts) since I started vaping. Now, I'm not blaming vaping ...there are other variables at play here, I haven't been able to exercise much in the last week or so due to 100+ temps, so that could be contributing as well ...but I'm wondering if there are any other diabetics here who have noticed a slight increase due to the flavors in the juices? I think, from what I've read, most people use Stevia / Sacralose for juice sweetener, which is fine for me, but I can only imagine that some flavors might be 'naturally' sweetened and, possibly, off-limits?

For the moment, I'm willing to wait it out, get my exercise back, and see if my numbers drop. This last week, my fasting glucose has been 95-105 - prior to this last week, I was managing in the 85-95 ranges, so it's not a huge jump ...just *slightly* concerning.

I suppose the question I have is, does anyone have any resources for diabetic concerns and vaping?

 

[Glen Snyder]

No experience with the issue, but have seen this forum mentioned a couple times.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/medical-research/

 

[lnp1968]

I believe goodejuice has a line of sugar free juice!

 

[Steam Turbine]

I am completely ignorant on this subject (and a lot of other subject for that matter). I'm just throwing this idea out there. Try vaping some unflavored for a while and then go back to your favorite e-juice. See if that changes anything in your sugar levels.

 

[Mad Scientist]

It has been studied. Unfortunately, nicotine is not great when it comes to the issue of diabetes and especially type II. You might want to discuss the issue with your doctor. Nicotine alone is still less harmful than smoking, but you might want to start weaning off even the nicotine.

Here is one of several studies on the issue:
Long-term Use of Nicotine Gum Is Associated With Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance

Anecdotally, nicotine intake can also result in healthy patients testing as prediabetic. But I still love it.

 

[RosaJ]

This subject has been discussed numerous times in the forum. Just do a search and am sure you'll get more answers than you thought. Good luck!

 

[rvh414]

I've been diabetic type II for a few years now and have been vaping for 5 years. Vaping has had no impact. However everyone is different. I don't think there is enough research regarding vaping and diabetes.

 

[mrbeefy0]

I imagine buying new juices is like going to.the candy shop. You see all this amazing candies, but have to choose from a small wall in the back because of the lack of sugar free options.

Is this the future of vaping? (I'm diebetic too, you got to have a little humor xP)

 

[VapHer]

I am type II Diabetic on Kombiglyze (2,000mg/day) and Levimir (31U @ night) Not quite sure about vaping and diabetes, but sure it's better than smoking

 

[Myrany]

One option is to DIY then you can better control what extra sweeteners are added. I know several of the flavor for DIY manufacturers are very responsive to customer questions. Perhaps contact them and find out what if any sweeteners are added before using their flavors in DIY Juice.

 

[fabricator4]

One option is to DIY then you can better control what extra sweeteners are added. I know several of the flavor for DIY manufacturers are very responsive to customer questions. Perhaps contact them and find out what if any sweeteners are added before using their flavors in DIY Juice.

In addition to Myrany's excellent suggestion to DIY, I think the effects of nicotine on the glucose/insulin system may be more important than the amount of sugars you would be ingesting. The reason for this is that sugars tend to burn and stick to the coil so their use has to be quite limited in e-liquid. Some small amount of caramel is used in some, and possibly similar compounds.

What does this mean? You'd need to check with the manufacturers but if an e-liquid had more than 1% sugar or sugar products like caramel it would be useless. Say you vape 3ml of liquid per day, 1% by weight of this would be 30mg of sugar. Not enough to be concerned about. Even if there were 5% sugars in the juice, this would still only be 150mg. Mostly, the sweeteners used in e-liquid are artificial ones like ethyl maltol and it's a safe bet that you don't actually ingest all of the sugars that are present.

Another factor that might come into play is that vegetable glycerin can get partly metabolised into glucose. The net affect would probably be no worse than the sugar content, and you'd be ingesting far more VG if you are eating processed foods in any case. Check with your doctor on this and if it turns out to be a problem you could try DIY liquids made with no, or very little VG.

The amount of exercise you have done, or the lack of it will surely have a much greater affect on your blood sugar than either of these factors.

If you were only diagnosed in June, it's still early days yet and the doctor will want to adjust your medication to get it right. This is perfectly normal and as you are finding, careful record keeping is very important. The good news is that your vaping is probably a very consistent and daily habit, and will change only very rarely. Any affect that nicotine or vaping has should be relatively easy to take into account in your medication.

(Disclaimer - I am not a doctor. My wife is seriously type II diabetic is all)

 

[MamaTried]

type II - 20 years
vaping - 2 months

increase in blood sugar after fingersticks- zero
reduction in massive, crippling smoker's coughs- enormous

YMMV

 

[Nermal]

Somewhat similar experience here. I've seen nothing outside of normal variation in spot checks. The nicotine intake is (Likely) the same or less, and I would be stunned to discover that any inhaled sweetner would be at all significant.

 

[knitcrotatter]

Type II for 12 years, on an insulin pump...
Vaping for a little over 3 weeks, mostly 0 nic and no effect on my BG whatsoever - YMMV

 

[hawkeye46]

I'm type 2 diabetic, blood sugar regulated by meds. Been vaping for 2 months, no longer smoke analogs. Smoked 2.5-3 packs a day for 45 years. Before vaping my blood sugar would be between 130 and 160 in the morning when I got up. After I started vaping my blood sugar in the morning was 60-70. Did not change my diet at all, exercise and everything else remained the same. The only thing that is different is vaping instead of analogs. I have decreased my meds as 60-70 blood sugar made me jittery. Now in the morning my sugar is 90-95. I can't even begin to tell you how much better my breathing and taste buds are, plus the money I'm saving. Let's keep gov't from regulating a product that is saving my life.--Bob

 

[knitcrotatter]

I'm type 2 diabetic, blood sugar regulated by meds. Been vaping for 2 months, no longer smoke analogs. Smoked 2.5-3 packs a day for 45 years. Before vaping my blood sugar would be between 130 and 160 in the morning when I got up. After I started vaping my blood sugar in the morning was 60-70. Did not change my diet at all, exercise and everything else remained the same. The only thing that is different is vaping instead of analogs. I have decreased my meds as 60-70 blood sugar made me jittery. Now in the morning my sugar is 90-95. I can't even begin to tell you how much better my breathing and taste buds are, plus the money I'm saving. Let's keep gov't from regulating a product that is saving my life.--Bob

Great munbers, Bob - Vape On!

 

[Nermal]

Before vaping my blood sugar would be between 130 and 160 in the morning when I got up.

Thanks for that, Bob. In a way, I'm kind of relieved to see that others are having the same kind of variation the first thing in the morning. I wish I could also report those better numbers since I started vaping, but at least I'm sure they are no worse. I wonder it it is related to flavor and pg/vg ratios. I've made too many changes in the past two months to make a meaningful report.

 

[Snickerfritz]

I don't know a whole lot about diabetes, but I can only imagine that staying well hydrated can only be helpful. Be sure to drink lots of water as vaping can dehydrate you.

 

[mommafish]

I am insulin dependent type 2 and mr Dr was so happy I switchd to vaping but would be even happer when I get down to 0nic I havent seen my # up at all but that could because of the insulin

 

[HyperRealist]

I haven't ate since last night and my blood sugar is 254. Only thing I can blame it on is this sweet juice I have been vaping.