Stress plays a role in onset, progression of diabetes

However, in the wake of combating all of these reasons, often, we tend to forget the most important, and in some cases, also the most impacting reason – stress.

Regardless of the fitness levels of an individual, stress, no matter whether physical or mental, play an important role in the onset and progression of diabetes. Of course, there’s much more to the linkages between diabetes and stress. We are going to explore them through this article.

Diabetes, in layman terms, is a disease associated with the blood sugar levels of an individual. In even simpler terms, it is comprised of the mismanagement of sugar in the body, which, in turn, leads to several other complications. Diabetes is mainly of three types - Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes results when the immunity system of an individual affects the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. According to scientists, Type 1 Diabetes is a result of genes and environmental factors such as viruses that instigate the disease. Gestational diabetes, on the other hand, is high blood sugar that progresses during pregnancy and, in most of the cases, subsides after giving birth.

Now, let us take a look at Type 2 Diabetes, which is the most widespread among all the diabetes types. Almost 90% of the total diabetic cases around the world belong to Type 2 Diabetes. The rest 10% belong to the other two. Annually, the disorder affects millions of people across the world, and it is believed that the numbers are only going to multiply in the years to come! Type 2 Diabetes is perceived to be a lifestyle disorder, resulting out of factors related to an individual’s lifestyle including unhealthy eating habits, obesity, lack of exercise, and yes, most importantly, stress.

Stress, in the modern age that we live, has become a common term. Today, it is affecting almost every individual on the planet, irrespective of age or gender. While some people suffer from physical stress, some suffer from mental, and some suffer from both. When it comes to stress, it must be remembered that stress, regardless of its type, is intertwined, and therefore, some suffering from physical stress might soon fall prey to the mental counterpart, and vice versa.

Stress is the cause of a lot of diseases such as high blood pressure, excessive weight gain, excessive weight loss, severe headaches, etc. However, out of all these, diabetes is considered to be the most dangerous one, as it has the potential to create several other complexities. Apparently, it is quite obvious to accept that stress is the reason for diabetes. Nevertheless, how does it affect the body, and cause diabetes in an individual?

In our body, blood sugar levels are principally controlled by two hormonal groups. The first hormonal group lowers blood sugar levels, and insulin is the only member belonging to this group. The second group, termed as counter-regulatory hormones, resists the action of insulin, thereby increasing the blood sugar levels. These hormones include adrenaline, cortisol, glucagon, noradrenaline, etc. Practically, stress increases the levels of counter-regulatory hormones, and particularly that of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. A continual increase in the level of these counter-regulatory hormones results in the onset of diabetes in a non-diabetic individual, and result in several other complications in the one who is already suffering from it.

It is this reason why it is important to identify and more importantly, accept the early signs of stress so that they don’t aggravate and transform into diabetes. Relieving an individual out of stress, to a large extent, prevents diabetes and reverses the disease in case of the already diabetic ones.

There isn’t one, but several ways through which stress can be reduced. Yoga is one of the most effective of all. It works on the fundamental linkages of the body with the mind. Practicing Yoga on a regular basis fosters muscle strength, improves blood circulation, overall flexibility, and also the oxygen uptake. With regard to reducing stress, Yoga proves to be an apt alternative. Yoga is primarily aimed at improving an individual’s overall health by relaxing the body and the mind. It relaxes the body and the mind and reduces stress through changes in the levels of a lot of hormones and neurotransmitters. However, it is imperative to complement Yoga with various other lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, regular exercises, coupled up with a strong determination to reverse diabetes, no matter what.