Quitline Use by People with Diabetes: a Descriptive Profile for 2008

People with diabetes who are smokers have a higher risk of developing complications, including nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular disease. According to the 2008 Puerto Rico BRFSS, 8% of people with diabetes are smokers.

Objective:: To provide a descriptive profile of the population who received counseling through the PR Quitline and reported a Diabetes diagnosis. 

Methods:: Analysis of a secondary data base developed by the quitline provider.

Results: According to the analyzed data, 10% of the 1,137 people who received counseling to quit smoking during 2008 also reported a Diabetes diagnosis.  More than half of them (57%) were females and 43% were males.  The participants reported having smoked during an average of 23.3 years and 97% were classified as a “daily smoker”, consuming an average of 19.5 cigarettes per day.  Some of the most prevalent chronic conditions reported by the participants were: hypertension (54%), asthma (34%), respiratory infections (30%), circulatory problems (27%), migraine (15%), and heart disease (14%), among other.

Conclusion::  It is important to maintain a continuous analysis of the population who access the services of quitlines in order to identify characteristics of potential users who may have success in their quitting attempts.  Due to the success of the quitline, the PR Tobacco Control Program in collaboration with the PR Diabetes Prevention and Control Program are implementing the Diabetes Virtual Telephone Coaching.