BG and Stress

Gentyl

I've been sooooo stressed out, lately. Really, I just want to cry... just extended family stuff, and hurricane stuff, and constant demands stuff, future fear stuff... transition stuff.. uncertainty stuff.. Just Stuff!!! My Blood Glucose has gone up for very little reason. I feel like unless I walk for hours and hours at a time, I just can't seem to control it. Lately, I've felt that my Blood Glucose is the only thing I can control in my life, at present.. and even that is becoming difficult. Has anyone ever gone through this? I'd love some helpful advice and support.

LauraDotts

Stress will raise your blood glucose. So, will pain and illness. The best you can do is stick with your diet, exercise, get enough sleep and monitor your blood as you deal with all the "stuff". I understand "stuff". I will keep you in my prayers.

Gbelk1

Yes. My Dr. Said stress is one of the big things that affect BG and the best way to control is exercise. The best thing we can do as people with diabetes is learn to control stress. Good luck.

travisseger

Stress does many bad things to our bodies - including raising our blood glucose. My doctor told me the day I was diagnosed that stress and illness are two things that will raise your blood glucose even if you're doing everything else right. It probably doesn't help matters that many people, myself included, tend to not be as on-point with their diet during times of excessive stress...let little things slide that they normally wouldn't.

Bevkus

I hold most of my weight on my mid section, as many diabetics do. I look like a marshmellow on a toothpick.

Anyway, I have been doing A LOT of research on belly fat etc. I have found out that belly fat is directly related to the release of stress hormones by the adrenal gland. This whole process is regulated so to speak by vitamin C. When we are stressed we deplete our vitamin C storage and this makes us susceptable to many things...including sicknesses such as colds...that is why when we are stressed we often get run down and sick.

My readings have suggested taking a vitamin C supplement of 1000 mg per day...and inreasing it to as much as 3000 mg per day when you are under stress or sick.

I have only been doing this for two weeks, so it hasnt been long enough to see if its helping my BG....but in the long term it may be helpful for those of us who look like the pilsbury dough boy!

deeschange

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200304/vitamin-c-stress-buster

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/08/990823072615.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/article/510302-how-much-vitamin-c-should-i-take-to-reduce-cortisol/

articles supporting your statements about vitamin c

http://articles.cnn.com/1999-08-23/health/9908_23_vitaminc.stress_1_excess-vitamin-stress-glass-of-orange-juice?_s=PM:HEALTH

caution is advised if you have kidney stones....according to the above article

glenner

For sure stress plays a factor in it, as well as illness. The bonus of walking lots is not only does it lower your blood sugar, it helps reduce stress so it is a win-win situation!

robert65ferguson

Hi Gentyl, sorry to hear about the current stress levels. I can identify with the sentiments you have expressed. Stress tends to do strange things to us, physicaly and emotionaly not to mention spiritualy. I have had periods just as you describe where events seemed to be controlling me rather than me managing events. In situations such as this it's very easy to slip into an anxiety spiral where the more our ability to deal with situations decreases the greater our stress becomes until we either threaten to explode or burn out. From experience, this is a time to step back and take stock. Making lists helps to quantify the problem and gain some perspective. Listing the stress sources and crossing off the ones which are completely outside your control, enables you to focus on the ones you can do something about. Prioritse these in terms of their urgency and potential impact and you now have the basis of a plan. Remembering that you can eat an elephant if you take it one bite at a time, work your way methodically through your list. You will be suprised at how your stress levels reduce as you see your list reducing. Remember to make some time for yourself. If you don't look after yourself by eating properly and getting some 'me time' your ability to deal with your situation will be impaired. I hope you find this helpful and look forward to hearing about your success.

Gentyl

Thank you guys.. I'm definitely feeling better.. blood sugars have stabilized (no more 'net carbs' for me). I think the fluctuations I've been experiencing this week affect my psyche. I usually handle things better than I've been. Nothing has truly occurred in my life that is not common to life, after all. I've been stressing over the smallest things.. ok, some things are not so small, but it's a matter of perspective, right? I don't ever remember having been this sensitive since I was a small child.

The 'me time' to just sit and be still really helped. You all are quite amazing.

Blessings.

Aussielooser

I have learnt in the short time that I have had diabetes stress play's havoc with my levels.. It's like a circle it goes around and around... Where only human and stress is unfortunately in most peoples makeup including my own- On these days that I do have bad stress I still take my my levels and there sky high and then I use to stress about having higher than normal levels (Sad but true) and when I have gone back to the doctor I have explained why they where high he understand- so I am very lucky that way.

I hope your feeling a little better and I said warm Aussie hugs your way :flowerforyou: