糖尿病是台灣地區的第五大死因，估計糖尿病病人的死亡有75%以上與動脈粥狀硬化有關，而吸菸又是心臟血管疾病的主要危險因子。估計美國每年所有冠狀動脈心臟病的死亡中，有30%可歸因於吸菸，而糖尿病病人的心臟血管疾病死亡中有65%可歸因於糖尿病與吸菸之交互作用。吸菸的糖尿病病人比未吸菸的糖尿病病人有較高的心臟血管疾病發生率、再發率、及死亡率，而戒菸可以很快地改善這些現象。有研究指出，發生心肌梗塞的病人戒菸一年後，可使心臟血管疾病的發生降低50%；在戒菸二年後罹患心臟血管疾病之危險性則與無吸菸者相當。美國Multiple Risk Factor In tervention Trial (MRFIT)的研究指出，在比較給予抗高血壓治療、降低膽固醇、給予阿斯匹靈、及實施戒菸等方式的介入時，戒菸的成效是最好的，而且糖尿病病人比無糖尿病者可由預防介入得到更大的效益。

　　　　　Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death in Taiwan. More than 75% of causes of death in diabetic patients can be ascribed to atherosclerosis. Cigarette smoking has long been identified as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease. In the USA, about 30% of cardiovascular mortality each year can be ascribed to cigarette smoking, and about 65% of cardiovascular mortality in diabetic patients can be ascribed to an interaction between diabetes mellitus and cigarette smoking. The incidenc e, recurrence rate, and mortality of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients are all higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Smoking cessation can improve these phenomena. Patients after myocardial infarction experienced a 50% reduction in cardiovascular events after quitting smoking for 1 year. The risk was further reduced after quitting for 2 two years to a level comparable to patients who did not smoke. Analysis of the theoretical benefits of four different approaches to reducing cardiovascular risk in diabetic and non-diabetic populations in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) concluded that smoking cessation is the most effective intervention when compared to antihypertensive treatment, aspirin, and cholesterol lowering. Diabetic patients are prone to gain more beneficial effects than are non-diabetics from preventive interventions.