For people with type 1 diabetes, smoking can exacerbate blood glucose fluctuations and increase your chances of developing complications. Smoking can elevate your heart rate and your blood pressure as well as let fatty material build up in your arteries. Hello, heart disease and stroke.

Smoking can affect your circulation, which can lead to problems with your feet and legs. Smoking can put you at greater risk of being sick throughout the year, of developing eye and gum disease, and more.

#1 Get help

Quitting is a difficult process. Talk to your doctor about potential ways to manage your nicotine cravings with medication, patches, or gum. Let your friends and family know that you want to quit smoking so that you can have a community around you that supports you fully in your goal to quit.

#2 Create a routine

Smoking comes with a lot of routines; smoking along with your morning coffee, while on the phone, in social situations, while drinking, or during breaks at work. These routines are habits that can be difficult to break.

Start to create a routine that doesn’t center around smoking. Taking up a hobby that keeps your hands and mind busy can help

#3 Exercise

Going for a run, a walk with friends or taking up another exercise routine when you feel like smoking. This can help rewire your brain to replace the cravings for nicotine with a healthy and productive alternative. The endorphins you get from working out can also make you feel better.

#4 Be patient

Be patient with your body and with your decision to quit smoking. Most people can’t quit overnight, and many people struggle with their cravings while they are in the process of quitting. Nicotine addiction can be a powerful thing.

Don’t be too hard on yourself when you are quitting. Opting out is a moment by moment, day by day journey, so keep your eyes focused on your goal to quit rather than the small moments when you feel like you need to smoke.

#5 Clean

In addition to exercise, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking, keeping your environment clean can dramatically help the quitting process. Remove the physical signs of your habit by throwing out ashtrays, cleaning your home, and clearing out your car. This can get rid of the sights and smells of smoking that may trigger you.

Quitting smoking can decrease your risks of developing some of the complications of diabetes as well as help you regulate your blood glucose levels more effectively. In addition to its effects on diabetes, non-smokers live longer and have stronger immune systems than smokers.