In a study from The Ohio State University, scientists found a clear link between the stress hormone cortisol and higher blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
In healthy people, cortisol fluctuates naturally throughout the day, spiking in the morning and falling at night.
But in people with type 2 diabetes, cortisol profiles that were flatter throughout the day had higher glucose levels.
Previous research has shown that stress and depression are two of the major causes of a flatter cortisol profile.
These sustained levels of cortisol make it much more difficult to control blood sugar and manage the disease, which is why it is so important for those with type 2 diabetes to find ways to reduce stress.
The link of cortisol with glucose levels was only observed in those with diabetes.
However, the team believes the stress hormone likely plays an important role in diabetes prevention and they continue to research the connection between cortisol and the development of diabetes and heart disease.
More than 30 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With Type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin properly.
Some people can manage their blood sugar levels with healthy eating and exercise, while others may need medication or insulin to help manage it.
The team says most people with Type 2 diabetes know the importance of exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and getting plenty of rest.
But stress relief is a crucial and often forgotten component of diabetes management.
Whether it’s a yoga class, taking a walk, or reading a book, finding ways to lower your stress levels is important to everyone’s overall health, especially for those with type 2 diabetes.
If you care about blood sugar, please read studies about how to control diabetes apart from blood sugar levels, and people with diabetes can eat this bread without the blood sugar rising.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about the link between COVID-19 and diabetes, and results showing scientists find ways to treat diabetes without drugs.
The study was conducted by Dr. Joshua J. Joseph et al and published in Psychoneuroendocrinology.
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