Stressful jobs put women at risk of diabetes

The study that aimed to understand the link between diabetes and stress monitored data from 73,517 women after checking on their health status for 22 years. The participants, which comprised mostly of teachers, filled in questionnaires about their health status and around 4,187 were found to have been affected with type 2 diabetes.

Around 24 per cent of them who considered their work mentally tiring were found to be at 21 per cent high risk of being affected with type 2 diabetes. The study highlighted that stressful work environment can increase the risk of diabetes in the long run.

“Studies show stress and job hours being associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Work stress can have an effect on diabetes through both psychological and metabolic reasons. The effect on behaviour can influence diabetes. Metabolically, chronic stress can lead to an increase in cortisol secretion that can cause central fat accumulation which can lead to diabetes,” said Dr Lovelena Munawar, diabetologist at Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Clinic.

Psychiatrists said that emotional and academic behaviours cause a greater amount of occupational stress in women than men. “Chronic exposure to stress causes alterations in neuroendocrine functions and chronic inflammatory changes in the form of cytokines release that can lead to weight gain. In such a psychological state, the individual can also indulge in unhealthy food habits and have reduced physical activity which can all make the individual at risk of developing diabetes over time,” said consultant psychiatrist at Shri Ramachandra Medical Centre Dr Vivian Kapil.