Smoking and depression in diabetic patients

Diabetic subjects numbering 133 were divided into 3 groups - smokers, exsmokers, and nonsmokers - and their degree of depression compared based on Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID), PAID and Zung Self-Reporting Depression Scale scores did not differ significantly among groups, but fewer of smokers than ex- and nonsmokers exercised regularly. We also studied changes in emotional status after patients stopped smoking, finding that 50% of the smokers taking part in a smoking cessation program continued to abstain from smoking and to exercise, improving their PAID scores from 43 points to 31 points. Regular exercise appears to enhance such individuals' ability to stop smoking, and this ability may in turn decrease diabetes-related distress levels.