When it comes to stress, there’s good and bad news.

The bad news is that stress is unavoidable, especially in today’s fast-paced society. Be it something as small as taking a test or as big as getting a divorce, stress affects everybody. When you have diabetes, you may find this tension affecting your sugar levels.

Read on to discover 3 simple yet effective tips on how you can control your sugars under high stress. (P.S: You can also check out our video on this topic.)

First things first, how does stress affect diabetes?

When you’re in a stressful situation, your body releases hormones that prepare you to either face the stress or run away. (Think fight or flight response.) Your body can’t fight or flee when sugars are too low.

As a result, stress hormones can cause your blood glucose to rise. Stress can also play an important role in diabetes management. People under a time crunch may skip their regular trips to the gym and stop monitoring their sugar levels. When stress gets too high, some people may try to cope with unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, and binge eating.

A little stress now and then is normal, even healthy. But those who are constantly worried or on edge may suffer from prolonged high sugars. According to WebMD, sugar levels that are too high for too long can lead to several complications, including blindness, kidney problems, cardiovascular complications, and nerve damage.

3 simple but effective ways to cope with stress:

“Coping” is the term used to describe ways people learn to deal with stress.

1. Improvement

One healthy way to cope with stress is by working to improve the stressful situation. For example, if traffic jams during your morning commute make your blood boil, try leaving for work a few minutes early. Or, try taking a new route that has fewer stoplights and less crowded streets.

2. Attitude

Adjusting your attitude is another healthy way you can learn to cope with everyday stress. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who think positive thoughts live longer and have stronger immune systems. They are also less at-risk for developing conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

The next time the highway is at a dead stop on your way to work, take a deep breath, smile, and think happy thoughts. The traffic will move again soon, your car’s working perfectly well, and now you have more time to listen to the radio.

Stay Positive
3. Habits

Finally, making an effort to keep up healthy habits can keep stress levels at bay and your blood sugar levels closer to a healthy range.

Swamped with homework? Instead of skipping your entire workout, go for a short, 15-minute walk. If you’re craving sweet and salty snacks, reach for nuts and a piece of fruit instead of chips and ice cream.

A good night’s sleep can also help reduce stress by improving your mood and lowering your blood sugar. After the recommended 7-8 hours of shut-eye, you may also find that you see your problems in a new light.

Summary Stress doesn’t always have to take over and control your life. The next time you are feeling overwhelmed, think of ways you can turn the situation around. It can be beneficial for your self-care as well as your diabetes management.

Disclaimer: Any information provided is not intended as medical advice. Iowa Diabetes is not responsible for any information from third parties.