Diabetes and Stress: Clash of the Titans

From the elderly to young children, it seems that everyone has to deal with stress nowadays. Stress is our body’s (and mind’s) way of telling us that something has upset our normal equilibrium. At times stress is not a bad thing as it may motivate us to succeed, but sometimes, stress can affect us in a negative way.

Stress can influence blood sugar control in many ways. It can cause hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) as well as interfere with our self-care in the following ways:

• Poor sleep: When you are under a lot of stress, your sleep may be quite disrupted. You may find yourself not sleeping well and feeling tired.

• Smoking or drinking too much: You may also turn to “quick fix” ways to relieve your stress.

• Lack of exercise: You may not feel like bothering about your treatment regime and find yourself too tired to do any exercise.

• Changes in appetite: Some of us may engage in comfort eating as well.

Related article: Why exercise is good for all ages

All these behaviours can have a significant impact on our diabetes management. It is important to manage both stress and diabetes as they can interact with each other. When you are stressed, your blood sugar may increase and when your blood sugar is not under control, you may feel less able to cope with stress and more easily affected by things.

Unfortunately, at times, diabetes management can in itself be a huge source of stress! Being diagnosed with diabetes causes some emotional distress in most people. The required lifestyle changes (exercise, diet management, avoidance of smoking and drinking) do involve a lot of effort, thus creating stress. The best way to manage that stress is to increase our knowledge of diabetes and its management, and to work it into our routine.

Some people are more susceptible to stress than others. Even ordinary daily decisions seem insurmountable to them. For instance, deciding what to have for dinner or what to buy at the store can be a monumental dilemma. Others thrive under stress by becoming highly motivated, challenged and productive when driven by the force of pressure.

Related video: Breathe in… breathe out… to better manage stress levels

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Article written by Evelyn Boon, Senior Principal Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group, for HealthXchange.

Articles on HealthXchange.com.sg are meant for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional surgical, medical or health advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment.