How Stress Can Affect Diabetes
How Stress Can Affect Diabetes
Stress is experienced by everyone in many different forms. Although stress is unavoidable, it can be managed. Since stress hormones can affect blood sugar levels, here a few helpful tips diabetics can follow to manage both stress and blood sugar.1
Quality Sleep is the key
A prolonged lack of quality sleep can affect their functionality in daily life. Not only does a good night’s sleep feel good in the morning when you wake up, it will help regulate hormones that control hunger, weight, and blood glucose. Sleep deprivation, even for a few days, can increase insulin resistance where if you did not have diabetes before, you are more likely to develop it. An easy fix is to limit caffeinated drinks in the afternoon, especially during a traditional Asian tea time. A comfortable bed, a cool room that is well ventilated, and a consistent sleep schedule will both get your mind and body used to a predictable routine.1
De-stress with Exercise
For many health problems, exercise is seen as one of the best solutions. It can help you manage your weight, keep blood sugar down, and release the feel good chemicals like endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline and endocannabinoid. Make sure to record blood sugar levels before a workout and after workout to keep track of how it affects it. This is because if you are more active than usual, your blood sugar may drop too low (hypoglycemia). If your blood sugar is very low for an extended period, it can cause extreme fatigue, fainting, and hospitalization. To find the most suitable workout program for your own diabetic condition, it is best to consult a medical professional for advice. Overall, you really do not need the gym and you can workout with what you have at home. Simple as walking up and down the stairs, walking instead of driving to get groceries, and even better when natural surroundings help your mood. Once you expend all that energy during the day, it can help you sleep better at night.1, 2
Mental Health Matters too
When you feel a bout of stress oncoming, take a moment to relax to put things into a perspective. Meditating or systematic breathing practices can help you calm down. It is not that you should practice these methods when stressed, but do them other times you are not to help regulate. Like managing your emotions, when managing your diabetes, do not focus on what you could not do. Focus on what you have already accomplished and find out how you can improve. Never be afraid to reach out and consult Mental Health or other Medical Professionals for advice.2
Nutrition and How can Glucerna’s products help diabetics
Since overeating is a symptom of stress, controlling your diabetes with nutrition can help you feel fresh in general. For example, food low in GI (Glycemic Index, a scale of 0 to 100 that ranks foods by how much they raise your blood sugar. The higher the number the quicker it raises your blood sugar) are ideal for diabetics. Having it as a replacement for a light meal, on the go, for weight management, or for illness recovery days, Glucerna’s low-digesting carbohydrates will help maintain stressing blood sugar spikes by keeping you fuller longer.3
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