Stress can be an underlying cause of many health problems. Due to a fast-paced lifestyle and a neck-tight competitive world, it has become more prevalent now. It opens doors for several diseases, and diabetes is one of those.
Whenever you experience stress or feel threatened, your body automatically reacts. This typical response from your body is known as the fight-or-flight response. In such situations, your brain directs your body to release adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream. This automatically makes your respiratory rates increase as well. If your body is incapable of processing the reactions adequately, it will trigger your blood sugar levels.
Please note that constant stress associated with increased blood glucose can possibly wear you down both mentally and physically. It becomes difficult for you to manage your diabetes. Nevertheless, the best endocrinologist in Delhi can provide you with the best treatment and cure the enduring condition.
This article will give you valuable insights into the link between stress and diabetes. Please keep reading until the end to know more about the same.
Let’s get started.
How Can Stress Affect Blood Sugar and Diabetes?
Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the relationship between blood sugar and stress. Research suggests that a person experiencing anxiety or depression has a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
In fact, people who experience a combination of anxiety, stress, and depression are at higher risk of developing diabetes. Some other stressful emotions and activities that can promote the same are:
- General emotional stress
- Traumatic experiences or stressful life events
- Work stress
- Hostility and anger
- Distressed sleep, etc.
Scientists have also moved on to provide possible explanations on how numerous types of stress can promote diabetes. These typically include effects on hormone levels, the immune system, and lifestyle factors.
However, some researchers have also come up with conflicting evidence on the relationship between stress and diabetes. Studies are still under process until and unless anybody comes up with a logical fact.
However, we’ve made a thorough discussion on the basis of the three above-mentioned factors:
● Stress Affecting Hormones
Emotional stress can deliberately affect the hormone levels of a person. Furthermore, it goes on to disrupt the remarkable functionalities of insulin.
In fact, stress can also activate the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. It can induce hormonal changes like extremely lower levels of sex hormones and high levels of cortisol levels. These hormones can typically affect insulin levels.
Cortisol, a common stress hormone, can seamlessly stimulate the production of glucose within the human body. It automatically raises the blood sugar level of the person. However, people experiencing abnormal hormone levels are very likely to notice an increased waist-to-hip ratio. It means that the waist size becomes larger than that of their hips. This is a potentially important risk factor for diabetes.
● Stress Affecting Lifestyle Factors
Most often, high levels of stress might lead a person to a sedentary lifestyle. Some of the most common unhealthy habits include:
- Extremely low exercise levels
- Adhering to a poor-quality diet
- Excessive alcohol consumption, etc.
- Stress Affecting Immune System
Studies suggest that chronic stress has a greater possibility of affecting the immune system.
Symptoms of Stress
While most of the symptoms associated with stress are subtle, you might not possibly notice them. In fact, stress can deliberately affect both your mental and emotional well-being, thereby impacting your physical health.
When you can recognize the symptoms, you can automatically identify stress. Apart from that, you can also take a few commendable steps to manage the same.
Some of the most common physical symptoms of stress are:
- Muscle tension or pain
- Mild to severe headaches
- Frequent general illness
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Fatigue
However, stress can also make you feel the following:
- Irritable
- Unmotivated
- Restless
- Depressed
- Anxious
In order to cope with stress, people might show weird behavioral changes like:
- Eating too much or too little
- Suddenly withdrawing from friends and family
- Consuming excessive alcohol
- Always showing anger
- Adhering to tobacco
Managing or Reducing Stress Levels
Of all things, it is possible to lower or limit the things that are causing stress in your life. Here are a few techniques on how you can manage your stress levels:
- Practice relaxing activities like tai chi or yoga regularly
- Adhere to the practice of exercising daily
- Try avoiding the familiar stressful social situations
- Practice mindfulness techniques like meditation
- Spend more time with your loved ones
- Reduce caffeine intake
To Conclude
Unexpected peaks in blood glucose levels might negatively impact your diabetes management. It can eventually lead to adverse symptoms. Practicing certain stress-reduction techniques can possibly help you manage these occurrences.
If you are experiencing extremely high blood sugar levels, you must consult the best endocrinologist in Delhi. Health Centres like BLK Max Hospital host some of the best specialists who will offer you world-class treatment. Apart from that, they will also guide you through lifestyle changes to keep your stress in control.
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