There is a definite correlation between stress and diabetes type 2. Diabetes of either type is a stressful disease, there’s no doubt about that. Just being diagnosed with diabetes can cause a lot of stress. Then there are all the dietary and lifestyle changes you will experience which can also be quite stressful. Anything which takes you out of your comfort zone feels uncomfortable and will inevitably lead to you feeling stressed. So what effect does this have on diabetes and what is the best way to get yourself out of stress?
The negative effects of stress and diabetes type 2
As well as causing stress, diabetes is actually negatively affected by stress, and diabetes type 2 sufferers really need to take control to prevent stress levels from getting out of hand. Stress impacts the body by triggering the production of certain stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, better known as the “fight or flight” hormones. This increase in hormonal activity causes extra glucose to be released into your bloodstream to provide the extra energy needed to deal with, what the body perceives as a dangerous threat.
As we know, when more glucose is released into the system, it means that more insulin is needed to deal with it. Obviously this would create an added problem for diabetics who already have a hard time balancing insulin and blood glucose levels. If you have stress and diabetes type 2, you are more at risk of your diabetes leading to other health issues.
We all need to control our stress levels. Stress can kill you whether you are diabetic or not. It’s especially important, however, for diabetics to learn to control their stress levels so that they can establish better control over their blood glucose levels. Diabetes stress management can teach you how to relax and calm the stress response.
Diabetes stress management involves taking good care of yourself and maintaining a positive attitude. Sometimes taking a couple of deep breaths gives you enough time to decide how to react to a situation. If you know what your stressors are, you can plan in advance how to deal with them.
Other useful diabetes stress management techniques are meditation or conscious relaxation techniques. Yoga and other forms of exercise can be helpful as well. There are many classes that teach relaxation and stress-reduction techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation. There is also biofeedback which involves using a biofeedback machine which can reach your body to relax.
Stress and diabetes type 2 don’t make good partners. Reduce your stress levels and you can then concentrate on improving your diabetes and enjoying a much healthier lifestyle.
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It’s quite scary to have diabetes specially when your already a dependent of insulin that you can no longer bare to stand on your feet just because you lack energy. If symptoms continues to persist then you’ll start feeling bumpy as if you were pregnant but it’s in fact water that makes you tummy huge.