Effects of Stress on The Body

Is Stress Raising Your Blood Sugar After Meals?

Some background . . .

The effects of stress on the body are being revealed through more and more research of late. Some of this research has focused on how stress affects blood sugars. The research discussed on this page looks at the effects of "bad" stress on blood glucose levels after eating.

Blood sugars after eating play an important role in health. Some studies link higher blood sugars after meals to an increased risk for heart disease. Of course, frequent high sugars at any time of day are linked to eye, kidney and nerve damage.

Also, unexplained high sugars can pose a frustration for many people with diabetes. A quality of life issue, if you will. As a diabetes educator I've often heard patients' frustration. "I don't get it. Why am I so high? I ate the same meal as yesterday. But I had no problem with high sugars then." Hey. I think that was my quote. (Yes, I have diabetes too.)

This research . . .

This research from Diabetes Care (2005, vol 28 ) studied people with type 1 diabetes doing stressful tasks before eating. The effects of stress on the body - specifically blood sugars, blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol were measured after eating. The same tests were done on days the people did not have stressful tasks before eating.

The "stressful" tasks involved 5 minutes of mental preparation; 5 minutes oral presenting and 5 minutes of subtracting (math) - the last 2 items were done in front 2 people while being filmed. In total, 15 minutes. This is a modified standardized test called the Trier Social Stress Test.

The results:

Stress before eating resulted in higher glucose levels after the meal and for a longer period of time . Specifically, 1.4 mmol/L (25 mg/dL) higher and for 45 minutes longer. (The effects of stress on the body also included rises in blood pressure, heart rate, and saliva cortisol levels for these people.)

But . . .

ALL research has "buts". These are called limitations.

The limitations of this research were that it measured interstitial blood glucose (the glucose in fluid around the cell) not serum glucose; it involved a small number of people, it involved people's perception of stress and it relied on a "standardized" stress for a small amount of time.

But . . . My stress never comes in standardized packages for just 15 minutes.

The increase in blood sugar in this study seems small. HOWEVER, I can't help but wonder about the effects of stress on the body in real life, go red in the face, "I want to explode" stress compared to 15 minutes of "research" stress. Hmmm ... ponder with me. Which is worse - "research stress" or say . . .

• Rush hour traffic?
• With lousy drivers? (Hey, you #*^! - You cut me off!)
• Workload stress?
• Deadlines?
• Difficult clients?
• Child care? No, no - children are are a blessing right? Not a stress. Ha! But we love them! Now Junior . . . get the peanut butter out of the dog's fur because I'm busy taking the bingo chip out of your sister's nose - while I'm cooking! - Standardize that.

What does this study mean to you?

• Stress might be a factor in unexplained or prolonged high sugars after eating.

• Stress should be addressed for physical and emotional health.

We need more research of course regarding the effects of stress on the body and blood glucose levels. But this study opens up possibilities to explain or control sugars.

If your sugars are high after eating . . .

If most of your glucose levels are high after eating it isn't likely all stress related - unless you are constantly stressed (I hope not!). You might need to discuss with your health care team other options to control blood sugars after meals - Like portion control, lower glycemic index choices, exercise after the meal or medication adjustments.

If effects of stress on the body are impacting your diabetes and emotional health, this next blurb on reducing blood sugars using relaxation strategies might interest you. See here. Stress management is a good practice for all of us.

Most importantly, if you're feeling negative effects of stress on the body (or mind), seek help from your health care providers, family, church or friends.You can reduce negative stress.

Negative stress, by the way, is the stuff that feels bad. This is different than positive stress - say, winning a house in a lottery. Which, having just checked the winners list for the last home lotto ticket I purchased, I see I didn't. Excuse me while I go wallow in some bad stress.

And yes. . . Humor is a method of stress management.

Diabetes News & Nuggets is a light-hearted but informative look at diabetes research and newsworthy items. See here for more.

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Because the answer to your question is important, keep looking if you didn't find it. Best of health -- Bev

Related:

Relaxation lowers blood sugars.
Tips to lower fasting blood sugars
Tips to lower sugars at lunch
How to lower glucose levels at supper
Tips to lower blood sugars at bedtime

Reference: Wiesli, P. Acute psychological stress affects glucose concentration in patients with type 1 diabetes following food intake but not in the fasting state. Diabetes Care 2005 vol 28: 1910-1915.

Reviewed: August 2005.

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