Stress occurs when something causes the body to act as if they were attacking it.Stress sources can be physical, such as injuries or diseases, or they can be mental, such as problems with their marriage, work, health or finance.

When stress occurs, the body prepares to take action.This preparation is called the fight or flight response.In the fight or flight response, the level of many hormones increases markedly.The real effect is to put a lot of energy stored - glucose and fat - available to cells.These cells then prepare to help the body move away from danger.

In people with diabetes, the fight or flight response does not work well.Insulin cannot always release additional energy for cells, so glucose accumulates in the blood.

the effect of stress on diabetes

Many sources of stress are long -term threats.For example, you can take months to recover from surgery.While the function of stress hormones is to face the danger in the short term, they remain on alert for a long time.As a result, long -term stress can cause blood glucose level to increase in the long term.

Many long -term stress sources are mental.Sometimes the mind reacts to a harmless event as if it were a real threat.As physical stress, mental stress can be in the short term: from taking a test to being docked in traffic.It can also be long term: from working for a demanding boss to care for an elderly father.With mental stress, the body releases hormones without results.Fighting or fleeing does not help when the "enemy" is the mind itself.

In people with diabetes, stress can have two types of effects on blood glucose level:

It is possible that people with stress do not take care of themselves.Maybe they take alcoholic beverages or exercise less.You may forget or not give the time to measure the glucose level or plan good meals.

Stress hormones can also change blood glucose level directly.

Scientists have studied the effects of stress on the level of glucose on animals and people.Mice with diabetes under physical or mental stress have a high level of glucose.The effects on people with type 1 diabetes are more varied.While the glucose level of most people rises with mental stress, it is possible that the glucose level of others decreases.In people with type 2 diabetes, mental stress often increases blood glucose level.Physical stress, such as disease or injury, causes a higher level of blood glucose in people with either types of diabetes.

It is easy to find out if mental stress affects its glucose control.Before measuring the glucose level, qualify your level of mental stress from one to ten.Then write to your glucose level.After a week or two, try to detect a pattern.Making a graph can help you notice the patterns.Is a high level of stress often presented with a high level of glucose, and a low level of stress with a low glucose level?If so, stress can affect its glucose control.

reduce mental stress - make changes

It is possible to eliminate some sources of stress in life.If traffic alters it, for example, you may find another route to go to work or leave home early enough to avoid traffic.If your work bitter life, if you can ask you to transf.Or maybe it helps him talk to his boss about how to improve things.As a last resort, you can look for another job.If you are enmity with a friend or relative, you can take the initial step toreconcile.For such problems, stress can be the first indication that something should change.

There are also other ways to combat stress:

- Start an exercise regime or join a sports team.
- Take dance lessons or join a dance club.
- Adopt a hobby or learn to make some craft.
- Ephrézcase of volunteer in a hospital or beneficial organization.
- Ways to face stress

Another thing that has an effect on people's response to stress is the way it faces stress.For example, the reaction of certain people is to try to solve the problem.They tell themselves, "what can I do about this problem?"They try to change their situation to eliminate stress.

Other people try to accept the problem.They convince themselves that "this problem is not really so bad."

These two methods of dealing with stress generally take effect.In people who use them, blood glucose level tends to rise less due to mental stress.

Learn to relax

For some people with diabetes, it seems beneficial to control stress with relaxation techniques, although it tends to help people with type 2 diabetes more than people with type 1 diabetes. This difference makes sense.Stress prevents the organism from freeing insulin in people with type 2 diabetes, so reducing stress may be more useful for these people.People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin, so reducing stress does not have this effect.Some people with type 2 diabetes may also be more sensitive to some stress hormones.Relaxing can help reduce that sensitivity.

There are many strategies that can help you relax:
Breathing exercises

Sit or go without crossing your legs or arms.Breathe deeply.Then exhale as much air as possible.Inhale and exhale again, this time relaxing the muscles on purpose while exhaling.Keep breathing and relax 5 to 20 minutes at the same time.Do breathing exercises at least once a day.

Progressive Relaxation Therapy

With this technique, which can learn in a clinic or a recording, the muscles are tightened and then relax.

exercise

Another way to make the body relax is to make a wide variety of movements.Three ways to relax with movements is to make circles with the parts of the body, stretch them and shake them.To make this exercise more fun, move with music.

replace negative thoughts for positive

Every time you notice a negative thought, think about something that makes you feel happy or proud.Or memorize a poem, prayer or appointment and use it to replace negative thinking.

Regardless of the method you choose to relax, practice it.Just as learning a new sport takes weeks or months of practice, learning to relax requires practice.

ways to face stress related to diabetes

Some stress sources will never disappear, do whatever.Having diabetes is one of them.Anyway, there are ways to reduce the stressful aspects of life with diabetes.Support groups can help.Knowing other people in the same situation helps you feel less alone.You can also learn from other people's advice to face problems.Making friends in a support group can reduce the load of stressful aspects related to stress.

You can also help if you directly face problems related to diabetes.Think about the aspects of life with diabetes that are more stressful for you.It can be to take your medication orMeasure the blood glucose level frequently, exercise or eat what it should.

If you need help with any of these problems, ask a member of your diabetes control team to recommend a professional.Sometimes stress can be of such a degree that it feels overwhelmed.So, psychotherapy can help.Talking with a therapist can help him face his problems.You may learn new ways to do so or change your behavior.

blood sugar and stress

During stressful situations, epinephrine (adrenaline), glucagon, growth hormone and cortisol play a paper at blood sugar levels.Stressful situations may include infections, serious illness or important emotional stress.

When stressed, the body prepares itself to make sure you have enough sugar or energy and available energy.Insulin levels fall, glucagon and epinephrine (adrenaline) levels rise and release more glucose from the liver.At the same time, the levels of the growth and cortisol hormone rise, which makes the body tissues (muscles and fat) less sensitive to insulin.As a result, there is more glucose available in the blood current.

When it has type 2 diabetes, low sugar levels due to too much medication or insulin are a common cause of stress.The hormonal response to a low blood sugar level includes a rapid release of epinephrine and glucagon, followed by a slower release of cortisol and growth hormone.These hormonal responses to low blood sugar can last about 6-8 hours, during that time blood sugar can be difficult to control.The phenomena of low blood sugar levels followed by a high level of blood sugar, are called "rebound" or "somogyi" reaction.

When you have type 2 diabetes, stress can cause your blood sugar to up

During moments of stress, individuals with diabetes may have more difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels.