Stress and Sugar

Stress and Sugar

Stress can take its toll on health in several different ways. One way is the adverse effect it has on blood sugar.

In a recent study that examined the way hostility interacts with stress, researchers from the Cleveland Clinic recruited more than 640 men who were around 60 years old. Urine samples were checked for levels of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter hormone that tends to run high during stress. Hostility was measured with the Cook-Medley Hostility scale, and blood samples provided data on glucose and insulin levels.

Results showed that people with high hostility may not necessarily be at risk of developing insulin resistance (a precursor of type 2 diabetes), but they are at risk when stressful situations arise, especially when stress is chronic. Cynicism was singled out as an aspect of hostility that’s strongly associated with insulin resistance.

Cynicism and hostility tend to be personality traits, so they’re difficult to modify. But stress is another matter. Healthy habits such as regular exercise, good amounts of sleep, and proper dietary intake can help reduce stress.

In the e-Alert “Calming Influence” (10/31/06) I told you how consistently high levels of cortisol (known as the “stress hormone”) may trigger blood sugar imbalance. But a daily intake of black tea may offer substantial help in managing cortisol levels when stress runs high. You can find that e-Alert at this link:

http://www.hsionline.com/ealerts/ea200610/ea20061031a.html

Sources:
“Hostility and Stress Predict Insulin Resistance” Michelle Rizzo, Reuters Health, 10/24/06, reutershealth.com