Is Stress Affecting Your Glucose Level?

stress-factor-affecting-glucose-level-min

22 Sep

Diabetes is a life changing disease. We do not pay much heed to the warnings when our blood sugar levels are a little high than normal in the initial stages. We listen to friendly advice of following healthy diet and exercising to keep the blood sugar level in check till the time when it severely affects our life style. Diabetes needs change in diet to keep blood sugar in check, which cause stress. Stress can take a toll on our physical and emotional well – being. It can also change our behavior. Diabetes is not a disease that can be cured. Stress affecting your glucose level is not a myth. Stress and anxiety have a direct effect on diabetes. It’s been seen that blood sugar increases with stress and anxiety. If you recognize the symptoms that will help you to identify stress then you can take steps to manage it.

Keeping your blood sugar levels within the range recommended by your doctor can be challenging.
Mentioned below are few methods to help you manage your stress and hence keep stress affecting your glucose levels away.

Identify your stress triggers – Keep track of date and time when you were feeling more stressed. This may help you identify the triggers, which are causing you stress and anxiety. For example, are you more stressed in afternoons? If so, take special steps in afternoons to lessen stress as well as keep your glucose in check. Take a walk or a nap.
Check glucose level – You should check your glucose level every 3-4 days, to see if a pattern emerges. If you notice that your glucose level is high then it’s likely that it is your mental stress affecting your glucose level.
Go easy on yourself – Don’t put yourself under undue pressure. Too strict a diet and too much exercise can give you stress. Diet affects both our physiological and psychological stress. So, don’t follow too many restrictions.
Eat right – Eat a well balanced meal – fill your meals with lots of seasonal vegetables and fruits. Keep your carbohydrate intake in check but don’t eat low calorie food. Eat boiled or steamed vegetables, eggs and grilled fish or chicken daily and drink plenty of water. Avoiding sweets and sweetened beverages.
Exercise – Physical activity is important part of your diabetes management. This can also help in reducing stress. Consult your physiotherapist or doctor and follow an exercise schedule. Getting enough sleep and following a moderate exercise regime can help reduce your stress and give you a healthy life.