[Intensified smoking cessation for diabetic patients--preliminary results]

Cigarette smoking is the most prominent yet avoidable cause of illness in the general population as well as in patients with diabetes. The danger of developing late complications is much higher for smoking than for non-smoking diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether an intensified smoking cessation program for patients with diabetes, including an initial 3 week-period of inpatient cessation, is effective and more successful than a mere outpatient program. The outpatient program consisted of at least 7 consultations within 2 years, and included nicotine replacement therapy, steps for modifying the smokers' behavioural patterns, advice in dietary and exercise as well as measurements of amounts of exhaled carbonmonoxide and lung function. In the inpatient program the patients passed the first 3 cessation weeks in a specialised clinic providing a similar, but intensified program, aside from daily life and professional routine. The following consultations corresponded to those of the outpatient program. Altogether we analysed 89 patients (64 in the outpatient and 25 in the inpatient program).