Smoking and vaping
Note: This page was written using AI as a supportive tool, all clinical content has been fact checked by a clinical professional.
Smoking is still one of the biggest causes of preventable illness and early death in Leeds. More than 16% of people in the city still smoke, which is around 113,000 people, and 1 in 3 people who smoke will die from a smoking related disease.
If you live with diabetes, smoking puts extra strain on your body. It damages blood vessels, increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, slows healing (especially in the feet), and makes blood glucose harder to manage. Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it isn’t risk-free, and most importantly, it should only be used as a tool to quit, not as a long-term habit.
Most people already know smoking isn’t good for them. What matters is being honest about how smoking or vaping fits into your life and knowing where real support is available when you are ready.
Support in Leeds
Leeds has a strong, friendly network designed to help people quit in a way that works for them, no pressure, no judgement.
Leeds Stop Smoking Service
A free service, open to anyone in Leeds. You can self-refer and get:
- One to one or group support
- Specialist help for people with long-term conditions
- Free carbon monoxide checks
- Support tailored to your lifestyle
Contact information
Vaping: Keeping it real
In Leeds, the “swap to stop” scheme supports adults who want to quit smoking by offering:
- A free vape starter kit
- Up to 12 weeks of support
- Guidance on switching from smoking to vaping safely
The scheme recognises that while vaping isn’t harmless, it is significantly less harmful than smoking and can be a stepping stone to living smoke free.
If you’re not ready to quit
That’s normal. Many people try several times before they eventually quit. Some people just want to cut down first. Others want tools in place before they start.
You don’t need to commit to quit when you contact the Leeds services, they will still talk it through with you.
