Stress And Diabetes!

[buddy7]

Is there a link? my first response, its genetic, or of a family gene, as the science would lead us to believe!! The less well understood reasons, are a predetermining gene combined with obesity or being over aged. I rubbish this theory, the facts are more people today are educated in their eating habits, they are less over weight, more people do more exercise, and some with no family history of diabetes, yet, people diagnose with T2 diabetes are climbing.

Can it be caused by a genetic predisposition? or an immune system weakened for what ever reason? Is it our belief that stress is a direct trigger to T2 diabetes! although I caution, lets be sensible here, diabetes cannot result just from stress, or we'll all have it. Is it down to he/she, mishandling or ignoring stress, which is probably one of the powerful and contributing factors to T2 diabetes.

Stress is nothing new to humons, our body immune system, seems to cope with things remarkably well. Of course, some degree of stress is creative, stimulating and at times necessary to our body function, having said that! our bodies are only equip to cope with short bursts of it, too much stress may result in further physical and emotional problems, perhaps, its because stress is inconveniently so difficult to quantify or measure with-in our bodies, a theory of mind, people diagnosed with T2 diabetes, always seems to find it difficult to acknowledge that any form of stress is responsibility, you're told by these people, I'm never stressed, have no reason to be, they go into denial, to a point where they are no longer conscious of being stressed out, or adopt, the stance, the stiff-upper lip, about the subject, as humons we constantly have reasons, to profusely ignore the stress factor.

Is there a particular stress that effects our immune system? or in the case of T2 diabetes what disrupts a delicate or beautiful hormonal balance.

In our society today, there are many everyday stresses that constantly effect our lives, this was unthinkable many years ago, is this acceptable as an immutable fact of life? treated as a norm, and most of the time, not challenged or discussed.

As a nation, we are more concerned of our state of health, we look to the scientists and research teams around the world, for change. Despite all the known medical knowledge we have acquired, over recent years, the numbers of people diagnosed with T2 diabetes are still rising.

I'm sure posters, you'll give us, your more educated insight.

B/7 ESSEX UK.

[Hammer]

From articles I've read in the past, stress can weaken your immune system. If there is stress over a long period of time, I think that it leads to major health problems. One thing that I think contributes to this is in how the person deals with stress.

Myself, I unwillingly taught myself to not get stressed out over anything. I did this as a kid, and by doing it for so many years, I no longer feel stress. If something pops up that is stressful, my body seems to go into a relaxed mode and the stress never happens.

What happened to me as a kid was that whenever my parents would take us kids somewhere, (the beach, and amusement park, etc) I would get excited like any normal kid would. The thing was, when I did that, it would cause me to get an upset stomach and we'd have to stop somewhere so I could go to the bathroom.

This happened every time I got excited about something, so one day I decided to try and not get excited to see what would happen. When we got to the beach or amusement park, I forced myself to not get excited, and to stay calm...almost to the point of falling asleep. Sure enough, my stomach didn't bother me. I was happy! I found out the cause of my stomach upset!

From then on, anything that might cause me to get excited was met by me relaxing. It got to be that I would instantly relax for every situation....I couldn't take a chance on letting anything upset my stomach. Now it's automatic....I don't think about it, I just stay relaxed all the time. The down side is that ANY emotion causes me to instantly relax, so I feel very little emotion towards anything. Because of this I've been told by people that I come across as cold. This is something that I've done for almost 50 years so it's not like you can do this overnight.

An example....if someone cuts me off in traffic and almost causes me to wreck, it will result in my screaming an obscenity at them, then 5 seconds later I'm calm and collected and I'm no longer thinking about the idiot that cut me off. It's kinda scary sometimes how I can go from extreme anger to calm in a few seconds. I don't think my blood pressure has time to rise in that short of a time.:)

I can actually feel my body go into relax mode when something stressful arises. The stressful situation will cause me to start to get excited (I can feel my blood pressure start to rise, but then it will suddenly go back down again and the stress is gone.) This all happens in a second or two and it's over.

If you can control your stress like this, I wouldn't think that it would have any impact on your life. I would be curious if they could do some kind of test on me so that I could find out though.

[The_QUIET_one]

It could be a combination of both. Perhaps many are predesposed to it but stress is a trigger? there are many reasons. Also what makes you think that nowadays there is more stress? the fact that now there are more stress-related deseases and disorders? that could just be that people arent as afraid to admit to them and get help.

[buddy7]

Myself, I unwillingly taught myself to not get stressed out over anything. I did this as a kid, and by doing it for so many years, I no longer feel stress. If something pops up that is stressful, my body seems to go into a relaxed mode and the stress never happen
If you can control your stress like this, I wouldn't think that it would have any impact on your life. I would be curious if they could do some kind of test on me so that I could find out though.

Thanks for your supportive post Hammer, it would appear you've got the stress factor well and truly under control, may I take this opportunity to add a further comment, something else we've got in common, this enormous appetite for long post, thanks again! :)

[buddy7]

what makes you think that nowadays there is more stress? the fact that now there are more stress-related deseases and disorders? that could just be that people arent as afraid to admit to them and get help.

I probably can give you a thousand answers, to be brief, one will do, the world we live in!!

Not quite sure where to go with your second comment, am I right to say you're quite prepared to merrily go along, smoking the beef, and worry about rehab later! (Just a reference) :)

Many things (or the anticipation of them) can lead to stress.
These include:
pressure to perform at work or at school
threats of physical violence
money worries
arguments
family conflicts
divorce
bereavement
unemployment
moving house
marriage
Often there is no particular reason for developing stress, and it's caused by a build-up of a number of small things.
Stress can be caused by a range of common situations. However, people have very different responses to stress. For some people, stress can be useful, helping motivate them to achieve more. In others, particularly if it goes on for a long period of time, it causes a sense of not being able to cope.

So please forgive me Quiet one, if we're living in the real world, the above represents us all.

B/7 ESSEX UK.

[Scrabblechick]

IMHO, I'd say genetics first, stress second, lifestyle third. This said because there are plenty of people who are junk-food consuming couch potatoes whose BG is a lovely 78 all the time, and will be until they die.

100 years ago, a mom with three children didn't spend all her time in the mommy van, carting the kids to soccer, ballet, baseball, basketball, T-ball, art, chess, etc. classes. (Not saying these are bad. They have a place). Kids came home from school, did their chores, studied, had some family time and were in bed by 9 p.m.! Same with the adults.

[Janlaton]

Tend to agree on the order above. Inactivity is wide spread today with it more and more people will be diabetics because they do nothing to prevent their bodies from storing gobs of fat and eat pounds of sugars.

Green alert people -- Exercise!

[deco]

Hi Buddy;
I'm not aware of any connection between stress and getting diabetes but there is certainly a connection between stress and blood sugar management. Stress is essentially the activation of the fight or flight response which means increased blood sugar. Check out the article at Diabetes-Lifetips (http://www.diabetes-lifetips.com) for more information about managing stress.
Deco

[buddy7]

IMHO, I'd say genetics first, stress second, lifestyle third.
100 years ago, a mom with three children didn't spend all her time in the mommy van, carting the kids to soccer, ballet, baseball, basketball, T-ball, art, chess, etc. classes. (Not saying these are bad. They have a place). Kids came home from school, did their chores, studied, had some family time and were in bed by 9 p.m.! Same with the adults.

Hey- Scrabs!

Here you loud and clear, have to agree with you and Jan, so far not a tread of scientific evidence to substantiate stress is the main cause of diabetes, my theory, a contributing factor, so I'll stick to your order of merit.

Something I picked up, doing my research today. The exact role of stress in causing illnesses isn't known. However, it's clear that stress can temporarily weaken the immune system. And put under too much stress, the body becomes exhausted.

If you are stressed, you may also be more exposed to risk factors for diseases. For example, smokers may smoke more if they are stressed, and people who drink alcohol to relieve stress may become dependent on it. In the long term this will push up your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, and of developing certain cancers. Overall, if you are under long-term stress you are at greater risk of developing disease or dying prematurely.

Makes me wonder! does the same apply to diabetes?

B/7 ESSEX UK.

[buddy7]

Hi Buddy;
I'm not aware of any connection between stress and getting diabetes but there is certainly a connection between stress and blood sugar management. Stress is essentially the activation of the fight or flight response which means increased blood sugar. Check out the article at Diabetes-Lifetips (http://www.diabetes-lifetips.com) for more information about managing stress.
Deco

Deco!! Thanks, will do.

B/7 ESSEX UK.

[BrianSCohen]

Buddy,

There is a clear link between stress and blood sugar. Stress results in the adrenal glands releasing cortisol which among other things lead to "emergency" blood sugar being made available. This leads to elevated blood sugar. Excessive stress can not only cause transient blood sugar elevation, but it constantly elevated cortisol can lead to not only adrenal fatigue and dysfunction in glucose metabolism. If you think you are suffering from abnormal ongoing stress, you can actually get your cortisol levels tested by your dr.

As a diabetic, you need to be aware of stress and make sure you don't expose yourself to high levels of ongoing stress. In addition to the sources above, other areas to be alert to include inflammation (such as arthritis or other conditions), infection and exertional stress (endurance running).

[buddy7]

Buddy,

There is a clear link between stress and blood sugar. Stress results in the adrenal glands releasing cortisol which among other things lead to "emergency" blood sugar being made available. This leads to elevated blood sugar. Excessive stress can not only cause transient blood sugar elevation, but it constantly elevated cortisol can lead to not only adrenal fatigue and dysfunction in glucose metabolism. If you think you are suffering from abnormal ongoing stress, you can actually get your cortisol levels tested by your dr.

As a diabetic, you need to be aware of stress and make sure you don't expose yourself to high levels of ongoing stress. In addition to the sources above, other areas to be alert to include inflammation (such as arthritis or other conditions), infection and exertional stress (endurance running).

Thanks Brian for your encouraged in-put on the subject stress and diabetes, over the last weeks i had time to go on many sites on the subject, to be armed with some knowledge, before seeing my Dr, there are times, seeing him, can be a very stressful ordeal indeed, once, you badger him on any formed of medical knowledge about yourself, you tend to get ushered out with the call, "next patient please". Time i had a change of Dr, one of my current adjectives for him, (useless).
Thanks again Brian.

B/7 ESSEX UK.

[KarenBC]

Speaking for myself, I think I was teetering on that pre-diabetic type 2 edge and didn't know it. Major stress and upheavel in my world tipped me over the edge right into the big D.

Looking at buddy7's list...I hit 5 of those bang on in March...by April I was diagnosed with type 2. Hmmm....so now throw in selling the farm (at least I'm not buying it!), and then looking for a house in town.

Did I mention I work for a board of 14 directors...all politicians? That has it's stressful moments, but not all the time.

So along about May, when the stress meter was going through the roof I finally just threw up my hands in the air...and said "ok - do your worst - cause none of this is going to beat me!"

So now I'm puttering along, painting, packing, gardening and going to work. Things will either get done or they won't, the important thing in my world right now is learning all I can about diabetes. One of the hardest things has been learning to ask for help and accept it. When people have said "is there anything I can do"...I'm taking them up on it. Whether it's just bringing home a jug of milk so I don't have to make the run to town.

[buddy7]

looking at buddy7's list...I hit 5 of those bang on in March...by April I was diagnosed with type 2. Hmmm....so now throw in selling the farm (at least I'm not buying it!), and then looking for a house in town.


Good evening and welcome to my world of stress, Karen! first of all, thanks for given my post a plug, I'm so please to see you've learned to be pro-active and positive about stress,
one of the powerful and contributing factors to T2 diabetes.

Its nice to see you're taking things much easier, a great attitude, "things will either get done or they won't," as a young man I was brought up on a farm, I can relate to the early mornings and late evenings, total hard work, it will take you a little time to adjust to your new life, from, a quite farm life, to a busy life in the city, give it time, all the best for the future.

The DF is a great place to be, for good information, and support, when it comes to diabetes, I'm sure you'll like it here,
keep posting, ask as many questions you like, there are so many people on here that are willing to help, good evening, take care now!

B/7 ESSEX UK.