You’ve likely heard that stress is ‘bad’ for you, but do you know why exactly that is and how that relates to your blood sugars?
Our bodies view any type of stress as a threat. Biologically, we’re wired to respond to stress by jumping into that ‘fight or flight’ response. When that happens, the body does a few different things that have a big impact on blood sugars:
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Increases glucose output from the liver
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Reduces insulin sensitivity
These two evolutionary responses help provide the body with fuel to be able to either fight or flee from the threat.
This type of adaptation made sense when the biggest threats we faced were something like taking down a wooly mammoth or running from a lion, but these don’t typically line up with the types of stressors humans face today. Regardless of whether your stressor is physical or mental, your body responds the same way.
This means that when you’re experiencing stress, it’s common to see higher glucose values both in the moment as well as overall.
Want to keep track of this better in your own data? Consider using the “Notes” feature to log stressful moments! This helps you and your nutritionist work together to make connections between stress and the unique impact it has on your glucose trends.
Next: Stress Reduction Skills