Smoking and diabetes: Readiness for change and provider advice

Smoking is a serious health risk, particularly for people with diabetes. Th is study was designed to examine important aspects of smoking in a large gr oup of individuals with diabetes. A survey was mailed to 2,056 individuals with diabetes. The variables examined were the stages of change for smoking , prevalence of quitting advice given by health care providers, and the pat terns of readiness for change. The majority (57.8%) of current smokers were in the precontemplation stage. Comparisons on the stage of change indicate d that more individuals with Type 2 diabetes have quit while there are more current smokers among those with Type 1 diabetes. Comparisons on current s mokers indicated no differences on stage of change across the Type 1 and Ty pe 2 groups, across three subgroups of individuals with Type 2 diabetes, or across duration of diabetes. Those who reported that they were given cessa tion advice were further along in the stages of change. These results sugge st that the majority of individuals with diabetes who smoke an in the preco ntemplation stage of change and provider advice is important in moving smok ers toward change. The current findings underscore the importance of assess ing stage of change and providing stage-matched interventions when working with smokers with diabetes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.