The Body´s Response to Stress
The human body responds to stress in a variety of ways in order t appropriately protect itself. A wonderful illustration of this is the phenomenon in which people may suddenly perform acts of strength considerably above their normal during an adrenaline rush. While you may not be lifting cars like the Hulk due to everyday stress, the hormone surges may still be comparable.
Cortisol is referred to the “fight-or-flight” hormone. Cortisol levels rise when you are stressed. This can set off a chain reaction of events. The severity of these effects is dependent on the intensity of the stressor.
- It signals the liver to release blood sugar reserves in order to handle a stressful situation. Because many stressful situations do not necessitate physical exertion, the excess sugar remains in your system and keeps levels high.
- Cortisol inhibits glucose’s ability to leave your bloodstream and be taken in by your cells, causing blood sugar levels to remain high for longer.
- This increases the risk of high blood pressure and an elevated heart rate.
- Systemic inflammation is lessened.
- Your sensitivity to pain decreases.
- You may get shaky during very intense responses.
Adrenaline is another stress-related hormone. It differs from cortisol in that it is normally released in greater quantities when there is an imminent stressor or threat. As t prepares you to move out of imminent danger, the ensuing surge in blood sugar is more significant than with cortisol.
People and hormones react differently to stress. As a comfort tactic, you may start eating larger meals or more often. Maybe you haven’t been going to the gym as frequently as you used to because you have too much on your plate. These lifestyle changes influene blood sugar levels and may worsen the condition.
The Effects of Stress on Blood Sugar
The fight-or-flight instinct is a relic of a time when our stressors were often things like charging animals or famine. When those events happened, our bodies could deal with the matter at hand and move on.
Now that civilization has advanced, our stresses include things like bad employers and the Covid-19 quarantine. Because you can’t just challenge your employer to a duel, blood sugar levels remain elevated with no use for glucose in the body.
Depending on how long your specific stressor lasts, this might result in either a sudden spike in blood sugar levels or a gradual buildup over time. Both can be detrimental to your health in their own ways, and they necessitate distinct coping methods .
There has been significant research conducted that demonstrates that chronically high stress levels increases the risk of developing Type II Diabetes. This is because chronically elevated cortisol levels can influence how the pancreas produces insulin.
Types os Stress
Stress manifest itself in a variety of ways and is dependent on the underlying cause. Some of them are simple to manage, such as short-term stressors. Others, such as familial issues, may be more difficult to address.
It is critical to remember that wonderful things in your life can sometimes trigger a stress response, which may have a detrimental impact on your blood sugar levels. If you are getting married, for example, wedding preparation may be both enjoyable and stressful.
Being honest with yourself about the source of your stress may help you better manage it.
Acute Stress
Most people encounter one or more of these forms of stress at some point in their life.
Acute stress is considered the day-to-day life stressors that do not last as long as chronic stress and are usually easier to eliminate. The following are some examples of acute stress:
- A lengthy to-do list on any given day
- A particularly difficult workday
- A child that’s sick at home
- Being stuck in traffic
- Your car breaks down
Acute stress may not always imply less stress. As you can see from the list, any of these can be quite stressful, but the stress generally
does not last as long.
Try to reduce your acute stress. If you have a partner, make sure you have assistance in dealing with stress. Taking some things off your
plate might go a long way toward making you feel better. Teaching yourself not to sweat the small stuff may also be beneficial.
If you discover that your blood sugar becomes more unmanageable amid anticipated stresses, such as returning to work on Monday or traveling in heavy traffic, do your best to prepare for these events. This may look like dietary and lifestyle modifications that better support healthy blood sugar levels or taking supplements like Lowsitol.
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is especially problematic because it increases the risk of fight-or-flight hormones accumulating in the body over time. Blood sugar levels might become unpredictable and uncontrollable as a result of this accumulation.
Examples of chronic stressors may include:
- Infertility
- Significant life changes (e.g., marriage)
- Starting a new job
- The death of a loved one
- PCOS or Insulin Resistant
- Financial hardship
Because chronic stress increases the risk stress hormones accumulating in the body, notably cortisol, it is critical to get this under
control before it worsens. Ths is especially true if your blood sugar levels continue to rise. A metabolic cleanse may be a good approach to kickstart this process as it has been shown to help normalize hormone levels.
Emotional Stress
Mental or emotional stress is often more difficult to detect than physical stress. Because most people are tolerant to some extent before emotional stress becomes an issue, it might be more difficult to control after you have become accustomed to a stressed-induced state.
This type of stress increases the risk of increasing cortisol levels with decreasing adrenaline levels. Cortisol behaves differently in Type
I and Type II diabetics. People with Type II diabetes normally experience an increase in blood sugar levels, but those with Type I diabetes might experience either high or low blood sugar levels.
Chronic emotional stress increases the risk of depression, which an exacerbate the condition. This is especially true because depression increases the risk of poor self-care habits.
Physical Stress
Depending on the nature of the stress, physical stress may be immediate or gradual. A labor-intensive profession, for instance, may cause stress over time that is more difficult to release. In contrast, being injured is quick to build and release as you recuperate.
This type of stress often causes the body to produce more adrenaline than cortisol, especially when there are injuries or isolated incidents. Instead of a gradual rise in blood sugar levels, expect more dramatic spikes.
Physical Stress
Adrenal fatigue is a subtype of adrenal insufficiency, however it is not a medical diagnosis in and of itself. It refers specifically to someone who has adrenal insufficiency as a result of chronic stress. Because the adrenal system is so important in managing healthy blood sugar levels, this can have a greater impact on diabetics.
The adrenal gland is responsible for producing cortisol. Insufficiency occurs when the body no longer produces adequate levels of cortisol to instruct the liver to release stored glucose in response to stress. This usually means that your blood sugar levels remain lower than normal. There are several signs to look out for:
- Fatigue
- Low blood sugar
- Body aches
- Salt or sugar cravings
- Hypotension
- Lightheadedness
- Thinning body hair or skin discoloration
If you observe these symptoms and are under a lot of stress, speak with your doctor about treatment options. Meanwhile, you may benefit from taking the following measures on your own:
- A metabolic cleanse, which may support healthy hormone levels.
- Switch to a high-protein diet. Lisanne Nutrition Services can assist you in developing an individualized diet that supports healthy adrenal function.
- Consider herbal and other supplements. Lowsitol is an excellent option that is designed to support hormonal balance and healthy blood sugar levels.
- Take steps to minimize stress levels.
People who suffer from adrenal fatigue may try to alleviate their symptoms with sugar or caffeine. This exacerbates the diabetic condition. Do your best to minimize or avoid stimulants and focus on a protein-rich diet and supplements that will benefit you and your health.
Healthy and Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms for Stress
People have a tendency to gravitate toward coping mechanisms that benefit the short-term rather than the long-term. The following are examples of common and potentially harmful behaviors.
- Eating for comfort rather than sustenance or succumbing to sugar and salt cravings
- Failure to get the recommended quantity of exercise
- Self-isolating and allowing those feelings to build
- Ignoring your physical needs, especially diabetes care
Instead of engaging in these potentially harmful behaviors, explore other stress relieving strategies.
You may be able to lower your stress levels by doing the following beneficial things:
- Staying hydrated
- Eat foods that support healthy cortisol levels. You may want to consider a consultation with a nutritionist as this is a specialized diet.
- See a therapist to help you deal with chronic stress
- Get an adequate amount of sleep every night
- Consider a metabolic cleanse to help balance hormonal levels, as well as a supplement like Lowsitol to support day-to-day management.
- Delegate some of your difficult responsibilities to family members
- Determine your greatest stress-relieving activities and incorporate them into your daily routine
- Keep a journal to look for correlations between everyday stresses and blood sugar levels. Once you’ve identified certain triggers, you may be able to better manage them.
If you discover that these methods aren’t working for you, it may be time to see your doctor about alternative treatment options. Anti-anxiety medication or other medical interventions may be utilized. The main thing is to manage your stress so you can better support healthy blood sugar levels.
