How does psychological stress affect blood sugar? A guide to stress management for patients with hyperglycemia.

Avoid excessive psychological stress: The causes of diabetes are not yet fully understood. Clinical research to date unanimously agrees that diabetes is a complex syndrome with multiple causes. The inducing role of mental and neurological factors in the occurrence and development of diabetes is a consensus among scholars both domestically and internationally in recent years. This is because mental tension, emotional excitement, and psychological stress can cause a significant increase in the secretion of certain stress hormones, all of which raise blood sugar and antagonize insulin. Long-term, excessive release of these hormones inevitably leads to endocrine and metabolic dysregulation, causing hyperglycemia and ultimately diabetes.

Living in today's fast-paced and busy society, people often feel overwhelmed by numerous tasks and are forced to endure various forms of mental stress, such as competition in studies and work, and family burdens. These pressures have both benefits and drawbacks. The benefits include motivating people to work and study harder and reminding them to identify problems in their lives and work in a timely manner so as to make appropriate adjustments. The adverse effects of stress include two aspects: first, physiological reactions, such as increased breathing and heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and elevated blood sugar, causing symptoms like chest tightness, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue; second, psychological reactions, such as anxiety, skepticism about established facts, denial of their existence, and feelings of fear and anger.

Life Taboos and Health Care for People with High Blood Sugar:

These psychological and physiological reactions often intertwine, causing mood swings and physical discomfort.

Any type of stress can raise blood sugar levels, especially in diabetic patients with impaired pancreatic function. Various forms of stress are unavoidable in life, and how patients cope with them significantly impacts their ability to manage diabetes. Therefore, learning how to identify and manage stress is crucial for diabetic patients.

Common causes of stress in real life include: financial problems, job changes, friendships, moving, the birth of a child, worries about the child, marriage, or divorce.

Medical experts and psychologists tell us that when facing stress, we should pay attention to our feelings, that is, our reactions to stress. For example, do you laugh when nothing is funny, or cry for no apparent reason? Do you get angry for no reason? Do you feel like your mind is blank? And so on.

By identifying the causes of your stress and your stress responses, you'll know when to monitor your blood sugar more closely and take appropriate measures to manage stress. The following methods can help reduce stress:

Take a moment to reflect;
Develop a hobby;
Engage in appropriate physical activity;
Don't force yourself, learn to say no to others;
Go for a walk;
Do muscle relaxation exercises;
Take deep breaths frequently;
Confide in a close friend;
Join a diabetes support group;
Consult a diabetes specialist or psychologist.

It's worth noting that some stress-relieving methods are very unhealthy. While these methods may temporarily alleviate immediate distress, they are very detrimental to your health and diabetes management in the long run and should be corrected promptly. These incorrect methods include: smoking, drinking alcohol, eating sugary or high-fat snacks, rewarding yourself with food or snacks, and distancing yourself from or alienating friends or family.

In short, in today's world, avoiding stress is almost impossible. While we can't usually escape these pressures, we can change how we react to them to mitigate their negative effects. For example, we can't do anything about traffic jams, but we can choose to face them by calmly accepting their existence.