Smoking is the most common cause of death that you can prevent. Smoking causes 30% of all deaths in the United States, 90% of lung cancer deaths, 35% of cancer deaths, and 21% of deaths due to heart disease.

What everyone with diabetes should know about smoking

Smoking only makes problems caused by diabetes worse. Think about this:

• Diabetes can cause blood flow problems in the legs and feet, which can lead to amputations (loss of limbs). Smoking can decrease your blood flow even more.

• Diabetes can cause sexual impotence in men. Smoking can make it worse.

• Diabetes can cause high levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol, which can lead to hardened arteries. Smoking also damages blood vessels.

• Heart disease is the major cause of death among people with diabetes. Smoking makes your risk of heart attack even greater.

How can I quit?

• Set a "quit date" and discuss it with your doctor. Remind yourself of your quit date every day.

• Start to decrease the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. If you still crave nicotine, ask your doctor or pharmacist about a nicotine patch or gum.

• Set goals for yourself that include rewards and/or punishments. Like this: Promise yourself a reward if you cut back to two cigarettes a day for a full week. But if you smoke more than that, you can't have the reward until you meet your goal.

• Reduce habits tied to smoking. Like this: If you smoke with your morning coffee and after dinner at night, start drinking coffee in the morning without smoking. When this starts to feel okay, try to stop smoking after dinner.

• Avoid settings that you connect with smoking. If you like to smoke when you drink alcohol, avoid drinking. Or, try doing something instead of smoking. Like this: If you smoke when you feel stress, take some slow, deep breaths; go for a walk, or have a warm bath to calm down.

• Don't say: "I'll never be able to stop smoking!" Instead of dwelling on how hard it is to quit, just take it one day at a time.

"I've tried several times…"

• Because smoking is a physical addiction, quitting is not easy. Talk to your doctor about other means to help you stop. He or she may recommend a stop smoking program that may be right for you.

• Remember: The average smoker who has quit for good, has done so only after six tries!

• If you don't succeed on your first attempt to quit, just keep trying. Don't give up. Every time you try to quit, you are doing your body a favor. And you are that much closer to quitting for good!