Effect of Smoking on Blood Glucose Tolerance and Microalbuminuria among Smokers in Tiko Health District, Cameroon

Cigarette smoking is one of the most important modifiable risk factor for diabetes. Cigarette smoking is linked to vascular damage, endothelial dysfunction, and activation of the blood-clotting cascade. It is not unusual that the combined harmful effect of elevated blood glucose and cigarette smoking accelerates vascular damage in people with diabetes, and smoking significantly increases the risk of micro and macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Environmental tobacco smoke has been linked to a higher risk of ischaemic heart disease. Diabetes mellitus is also linked to an increase in mortality and morbidity. The effect of smoking among diabetics remains controversial with several studies showing no relationship between smoking and risk of diabetes. This study was aimed surving the effect of smoking on blood glucose and albuminuria among smokers in Tiko Health District. This was an investigative study which lasted for a period of six months from January, 2022 to June 2022 with a sample size of 88 participants. The acutest@ Micro albumin urine reagents strips were used to test for micro albuminuria using the urine samples obtained. The fasting blood glucose was measured using plasma following the manufacturer procedure.

From the results obtained from this study, the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes among smokers in Tiko community was 35.2% and 10.2% respectively and the prevalence of albuminuria among smokers in Tiko community was 11.4%. There was no association between certain parameters such as body mass index, consumption of alcohol, age and the onset of diabetes among study participants. In conclusion, smokers in Tiko municipality are reported to be affected by both prediabetes and diabetes alongside the presence of albumin in urine.