Smoking in diabetic teenagers

The prevalence of smoking amongst a group of 77 diabetic teenagers aged 11-18 years attending two paediatric clinics was determined using a questionnaire and urine cotinine assay. Five individuals were identified as definite smokers with two further individuals being probable smokers, all of whom were aged 15 years or more. This low prevalence (9%) is in contrast to a 48% prevalence in a young adult diabetic clinic. Many diabetic teenagers appear to acquire a regular smoking habit after leaving the paediatric clinic so it is important that health education is targeted at this group.