Document Actions
Stress Management
Stress is an inevitable part of life, but long-term, chronic stress can be debilitating to our health. Chronic stress plays a major role in the development of Type I as well as Type II diabetes. Stress also plays a major role in the development of IDDM complications. A Dutch study of 2,262 subjects between the ages of 50 and 74 years found a positive correlation between stress and the incidence of diabetes. Stressful life events, such as the death of a partner or a move, were linked to Type II diabetes and to increased fat around the abdomen. Researchers were able to isolate the increased risk of NIDDM as related specifically to an increased number of stressful life events, and theorized that this is because psychological stress induces the release of stress hormones that boost blood sugar.
Although major stressful life events are difficult to avoid, it is important to manage daily stress effectively so that stress hormones do not continually elevate blood sugar unnecessarily. The secretion of high levels of stress hormones, including cortisol, results in hyperglycemia. These hormones reduce both the amount of insulin released and the efficiency of available insulin. Diabetic control is thus compromised by chronic stress.
Stress reduction was found to stabilize metabolic functions and reestablish efficient use of insulin. All diabetics should focus on reducing daily stress whenever possible, and find effective stress management techniques.
Lifestyle counseling and meditative practices, such as yoga, have been shown to reduce stress. Stress reduction, in turn, stabilizes metabolic functions, reestablishing efficient use of insulin, decreasing the requirements for exogenous sources, and making blood sugar control easier to achieve.
In particular, thermal biofeedback-assisted relaxation training (BART) has elicited promising results in an 8-week experimental trial on 40 subjects (of which more than half had IDDM). When compared to the reduction in stress resulting from self-selected relaxation techniques, BART improved the glycemic control of IDDM subjects, decreased diastolic blood pressure, and reduced requirements for exogenous insulin.
Strategies for Reducing Stress
Some suggestions to help you reduce stress include:
· Practice yoga or meditation. Both enable you to focus your energy and clear your mind.
· Use thermal biofeedback-assisted relaxation training (BART).
· Keep a journal. This can be a place to vent frustrations and unleash negative energy instead of holding it inside.
· Delegate whenever possible. This may include delegating work tasks to subordinates or juggling family chores among your children to reduce the number of responsibilities you have. Hire extra help if you need and can afford to do so.
· Make time to exercise, which reduces stress and elevates endorphins to boost feelings of wellness.
· Keep lists of things you must do to help you keep track of your accomplishments. Staying organized will enable you to feel more in control of your time and less overwhelmed by the tasks at hand.
Although major stressful life events are difficult to avoid, it is important to manage daily stress effectively so that stress hormones do not continually elevate blood sugar unnecessarily. The secretion of high levels of stress hormones, including cortisol, results in hyperglycemia. These hormones reduce both the amount of insulin released and the efficiency of available insulin. Diabetic control is thus compromised by chronic stress.
Stress reduction was found to stabilize metabolic functions and reestablish efficient use of insulin. All diabetics should focus on reducing daily stress whenever possible, and find effective stress management techniques.
Lifestyle counseling and meditative practices, such as yoga, have been shown to reduce stress. Stress reduction, in turn, stabilizes metabolic functions, reestablishing efficient use of insulin, decreasing the requirements for exogenous sources, and making blood sugar control easier to achieve.
In particular, thermal biofeedback-assisted relaxation training (BART) has elicited promising results in an 8-week experimental trial on 40 subjects (of which more than half had IDDM). When compared to the reduction in stress resulting from self-selected relaxation techniques, BART improved the glycemic control of IDDM subjects, decreased diastolic blood pressure, and reduced requirements for exogenous insulin.
Strategies for Reducing Stress
Some suggestions to help you reduce stress include: · Practice yoga or meditation. Both enable you to focus your energy and clear your mind.
· Use thermal biofeedback-assisted relaxation training (BART).
· Keep a journal. This can be a place to vent frustrations and unleash negative energy instead of holding it inside.
· Delegate whenever possible. This may include delegating work tasks to subordinates or juggling family chores among your children to reduce the number of responsibilities you have. Hire extra help if you need and can afford to do so.
· Make time to exercise, which reduces stress and elevates endorphins to boost feelings of wellness.
· Keep lists of things you must do to help you keep track of your accomplishments. Staying organized will enable you to feel more in control of your time and less overwhelmed by the tasks at hand.