Smokers who have type 2 diabetes are most likely to quit tobacco, a study has found. According to the study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, you can stop smoking easily if you have high blood sugar levels and take weight-loss jab Wegovy. Researchers said the findings indicate the drug - semaglutide is associated with a lower risk for medical care related to tobacco addiction. Researchers said those who used the drug were less likely to be diagnosed with Tobacco Use Disorder, be prescribed medication to stop smoking or be given smoking cessation counseling.

"Semaglutide was associated with reduced smoking cessation medication prescriptions and counseling. Similar findings were observed in patients with and without a diagnosis of obesity," researchers wrote in their findings.

The study compared 222,942 new users of at least seven anti-diabetes medications. According to researchers, participants had both Type 2 diabetes and tobacco use disorder and findings said they mostly showed differences within 30 days of starting the prescription when comparing the groups.

Apart from reporting that drugs do help in smoking cessation, the findings suggest the need for more research to evaluate semaglutide's potential for tobacco use disorder treatment.

In earlier studies also, it has been reported that diabetes medicines like Wegovy and Ozempic have been instrumental in reducing cravings for addictive things like smoking. Some doctors and patients have seen diminished cravings for nicotine, alcohol, and even opioids as an unexpected side effect.

According to scientists, Ozempic works with the reward centers in your brain, Dr. Tamika Henry, founder of the California-based Unlimited Health Institute, opines. "When we think about the reward centers, it releases dopamine, which is our feel-good hormone. So, what happens is, when you do a certain activity, dopamine surges - and you're like, 'Oh, I want to keep doing that,' whether that's indulging in alcohol, nicotine, or even gambling," she said. "How Ozempic works is, it decreases the surge of dopamine, and therefore the desire for that particular activity is decreased."

However, the risk of negative side effects is also a factor to consider with these drugs, including for uses beyond weight loss.

"As you're thinking about decreasing addiction, yes, you want to do that, but is there also going to be some association with nausea? Are you also going to have problems with heartburn, or fatigue?" Henry said.

"The other thing is taking medication is just part of it. You need to start to do the other things that help you along the way. Because if the medication is removed, then what happens?"