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does stress effect sugar levels ????

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redrose

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi I have been on metformin for about 8 years. Just started Byetta in Jan this year too. My sugars have come down slightly(6,7,8's) which my D.N is pleased with but last week and this week they have gone back up (11-13).

The only thing that has been different is I have been so stressed due to trouble with noisy tennents that are living next door. Im normally a worrier which doesnt help but this added trouble is just not what I need.

Has anyone else noticed or knows that stress causes higher readings

Debbs
 
Hi, stress does indeed cause higher readings, due to the release of adrenalin and cortisol (the 'stress' hormones). These encourage the liver to release some of its stores of energy into the bloodstream so that, in theory, you have an extra energy boost, but in these circumstances it's one you could do without!
 
I've been away for a couple of days on a training course which I found quite stressful. My sugar readings were consistantly 4 or 5 mm/ol above their usual levels.
 
Oh I believe stress raises the sugar levels, my youngest is at the terrible two's stage and I find it very hard to keep my levels down even though I think running about after him should level it out:D
 
I also believe that stress does raise BG, I have been very stressed for the last 3 weeks (and I'm still stressed) - I have a feeling this will show in my HbA1c test that I had done today.:(
 
I also believe that stress does raise BG, I have been very stressed for the last 3 weeks (and I'm still stressed) - I have a feeling this will show in my HbA1c test that I had done today.:(

Fingers crossed that it will be better than you imagine, Ikklemo. And also that things improve on the stress-front.
 
Hi Northerner

Can't see the stress levels dropping for quite a while - and the only light at the end of the tunnel is an on-coming train!

Fingers crossed for a good HbA1c though, but then I've only been on my new tablets (gone from Metformin to Metform SR) for the last two weeks - time will tell.
 
well i have been showing levels of anything from 8.8 my lowest then last one i was 15.1 but i was diagnosed at 14.1 gawd knows all i can say is i been stressing over 2 hospital appts i have coming up ,and Im worrying even if i do go hi or low i dont even know the symptoms! i have ordered a book off amazon so im hoping this will give me an insight into diabeties at the moment im learning and its all abit scary 😱😱
 
Stress Levels

STRESS CERTAINLY DOES RAISE LEVELS,A MIXTURE OF HORMONES BOOSTING THE PRODUCTION OF GLUCOSE,I RECENTLY WENT ON A COURSE AND HAD TO PRESENT A TALK TO ALOT OF PEOPLE AND i COULD FEEL MY HEART BEATING VERY FAST,ICHECKED MY LEVELS AND THEY WERE 17,ONCE ID CALMED DOWN THEY GRADUALLY DECREASED, TAKE TIME TO HAVE CHILLOUT MOMENTS ITS NOT ALWAYS EASY ESPECIALLY IF LIKE ME HAVE HAD ALSO BEREAVEMENT,HUSBAND ILL & JOB STRESSES BUT YOU ARE NOT ON YOUR OWN.
 
WOW 17 , that is high , i got an anniversary of my mums death comin up in 4 days so i aint to sure if that is contributing cause i am very emotional at the minute , i am also having loads of headaches dont take anything because i cant swallow they dont last to long but there quite painful , i stress out all the time im a right easy worrier maybe i should try and become not so highly strung ., 😱
 
stress definately affects blood sugar levels, and the science, and most people, says that it will increase levels. For some reason I seem to go the opposite way (as with so much!) and in particularly stressful times my bg tends to go down not up! Think that may have more to do with my behaviour when stressed though eg eating less, doing more exercise etc... guess I'm just a bit contrary!
 
For me, it seems to depend upon the type of stress, if I'm emotionally upset, I'm likely to go low. If I'm worried or scared then my BG levels rise.
 
Stress due to other hormones released increases sugar levels. It is due tot the fight or flight response form caveman days. The body was given an extra boost of energy in response to danger. It meant that the body was able to keep safe by standing and fighting or running away.

In modern living we have many stresses that start of the fight or flight mechanism, but it is not always appropriate to run away like when the boss is shouting out us and the phone is ringing like mad, and this is after we have had the commute from hell and a row with the ticket inspector because he thinks the travel card is past its expirey date, so the stress levels and the hormones build. The rest as they say is history
 
Last May my husband had a heart attack and then arrested. Luckily ambulance crews arrived
very quickly and resuscitated him. The ensuing two or three weeks were extremely stressful
and my BG levels went sky high.
As things calmed down and he recovered things got back to near normal - BGs still a bit too
high but improved on what they were.
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