How is Stress and Diabetes Related?

The global pandemic has taken a toll on our physical and mental health. Besides facing with new realities lack of physical contacts with our loved ones, we are also faced with fear, worries and stress.¹ Stress has long been shown to have major effects on metabolic activity thus a potential contributor to chronic hyperglycaemia in type-2 diabetes.^1,2

How Stress Affects Hormones

Under stressful condition, our body prepares itself to ensure sufficient sugar and energy is readily available for the ‘fight or flight’ response. As such, the insulin levels fall resulting more glucose to release. At the same time our body releases stress hormone cortisol into our bloodstream which causes the body tissues to be less sensitive to insulin. In long term, elevated release of cortisol prompts the release of glucose, leading to increased blood sugar levels.³

How to Monitor if Stress is Affecting the Blood Glucose Levels

To determine if your glucose levels spike is due to stressful events, you may monitor with a blood glucose meter. You may consult your healthcare professionals for the blood glucose readings and seek for advices.

How to combat stress? 

1. Take regular exercise

2. Seek social support

3. Listen to music 

References:

1.       Melillo, G. (2020, August 4). Stress Hormone Cortisol Associated with Increased Blood Sugar in T2D Population. AJMC.

2.       Surwit, R. S., Schneiderm M. S., & Feinglos, M. N. (1992, October). Stress and Diabetes Mellitus. National Library of Medicine, 15(10): 1413-22. doi: 10.2337/diacare.15.10.1413. PMID: 1425110.

3.       Aronson, D. (2009, November). Cortisol-Its Role in Stress, Inflammation, and Indications for Diet Therapy. Today’s Dietitian, 11(11): 138.