Stress is a part of our everyday life. Every individual reacts to stress differently. However, for those with diabetes, being stressed will have an added effect on their health and blood sugar control. Stress can wreak havoc in your blood sugar levels.
How Does Stress Impact Blood Sugar Control?
When under stress, your body fights back by increasing energy. The stress hormones, epinephrine and cortisol, are activated and are responsible for increasing blood sugar level to provide energy for your body. This causes the your blood sugar levels to increase, along with your blood pressure. Therefore, stress can disrupt your blood sugar control and potentially impose real health problems for those with diabetes.
Short-term increase in your blood sugar level is not really dangerous. However, ongoing stress could harm your body especially when it cause you to neglect your diabetes medication, exercising and your overall health entirely. By managing your level of stress well, you will not only prevent the complications that come with having diabetes, but you also end up improving your emotional and mental well-being.
How To Reduce Stress For Better Blood Sugar Control?
There are many ways to cope with stress to prevent negative impact in your blood sugar control. Here are some ways to help with stress management when you are under stress:
- try to talk it out with someone you trust. It could be a friend, a family member or a professional like a counselor or diabetes educator
- take time out from work or any commitment that is causing your stress
- go out for a walk or get some exercise
- think about happy thoughts
- do something that will make you happy like watching a comedy, retail therapy or simple hanging out with your friends or family
- make sure that you get enough sleep
- cuddle with your partner, your kid or your pet
