The Effects of Stress

I have never met anyone who thought that managing their blood sugar was straight-forward.  The swings and the spikes, the unpredictable and unexplainable, are part of the universal experience.  Yet, as frustrating as they are, sometimes the unjustified spikes provide some valuable insight into what is going, on a deeper lever, in the body. 

When mindlessly nibbling on some crackers over a period of time, I might not register the impact of the carbs I am actually eating.  My blood sugar spikes.  I test, reflect on the crackers, and take a correction.  Overall, I have learned very little; the spike is an affirmation of how my body metabolizes food.  The lesson: be more aware of carbs and take insulin.  Usually, I can determine the cause of a higher reading on the meter by evaluating the mechanics- carbs and insulin.  (Did I eat more carbs than I dosed for?  Is there an air bubble in my pump tubing, or is my set not working?  Did the insulin get too hot?)

However, if I know my bases are covered, then high blood sugar can point to another issue: stress.  Sometimes, I don't realize how I may be stressed out- either physically or mentally- until my blood sugar points it out to me.

Both physical and mental stress spurs the body into action, as if it were under attack; its reaction to stress is called the "fight or flight" response.  The body assumes that the cells require extra energy to handle the threat or get away from the danger.  Thus, hormone levels spike, releasing epinephrine and adrenaline, both which give you added energy and concentration.  Simultaneously, as the body prepares to supply more energy to its cells, it releases stored energy (in the form of glucose and fat) into the blood stream. 

Theoretically, the body would use this extra energy dealing with the threat.  For example, the muscle cells would consume the glucose as they sprinted away from a source of danger.  In normal individuals, the body's negative feedback system takes care of the extra glucose in the blood, and the pancreas releases insulin accordingly.  However, in people with diabetes, there might not be enough insulin to let the glucose into the muscles.  The glucose can build up in the blood stream, causing hyperglycemia.   

The effects of mental stress can be just as intense as those of physical stress.  The mind can react to a fundamentally "safe" situation, such as academic or financial stress, as a real threat.   Thus, even the silliest anxiety can take a toll on your body by elevating blood sugar levels. 

As a diabetic, I end up with a lot of qualitative information about my body, because having diabetes forces me to pay closer attention, especially in terms of how I feel.  Yet, testing my blood sugar provides me with some quantitative information as well.  I do everything that I can to target a range of healthy blood sugar levels, so an abnormal number suggests that something else is going on.  I can use the numbers to evaluate other aspects of my health, and then, if necessary, I can take care of those elements to improve my blood sugar.