[Richard157]

I have seen discussions about stress and high blood sugar many times, on the diabetes sites. My impression is that stress does cause high blood sugar for almost all diabetics. I do know, however, that stress does not have that effect on all diabetics. I have faced many very stressful situations during my 65 years of diabetes, but my blood sugar was not affected. There are many things that can cause my blood sugar level to rise, but stress is not one of them. I am a very relaxed and calm individual and I rarely lose my temper. I think my basic personality keeps my blood sugar stable when I experience stress. This is one of several reasons why I have maintained an A1c below 6.0 for so many years.

Another closely related topic is excitement. I don't think that is a form of stress, what do you think? Excitement can cause my blood sugar to drop. I have to test frequently when I am excited. My Dexcom CGM is especially useful when I am excited. I eat glucose tablets when I experience situations that cause me to become very excited. Do any of you have lows when you are excited?

 

[breezeonby]

I have seen discussions about stress and high blood sugar many times, on the diabetes sites. My impression is that stress does cause high blood sugar for almost all diabetics. I do know, however, that stress does not have that effect on all diabetics. I have faced many very stressful situations during my 65 years of diabetes, but my blood sugar was not affected. There are many things that can cause my blood sugar level to rise, but stress is not one of them. I am a very relaxed and calm individual and I rarely lose my temper. I think my basic personality keeps my blood sugar stable when I experience stress. This is one of several reasons why I have maintained an A1c below 6.0 for so many years.

Another closely related topic is excitement. I don't think that is a form of stress, what do you think? Excitement can cause my blood sugar to drop. I have to test frequently when I am excited. My Dexcom CGM is especially useful when I am excited. I eat glucose tablets when I experience situations that cause me to become very excited. Do any of you have lows when you are excited?

I have never had any changes in blood sugar because of stress or excitement.

 

[Adjitater]

Richard I have had aome serious lows from stress and excitement. For me however it is caused by the increased metabolism that is caused by stress but be cause I have Addisons I don't get the glucose boost caused by increased cortisol. So for me I can explain it. For you it is probably just one of those things that makes you special.

 

[onaughmae]

I get a spike from being stressed. I know when I am at work, if something very stressful is going on, I always have to check my sugar when I get the chance and most of the time I need a small correction. I always figured its my body trying to "help me out" and give me a sugar boost not realizing that I *really* dont need that kind of help

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Yes, stress spikes me

 

[Kitchener Bay]

My Motto
" I don't like problems, so I refuse to have them"
Totally stress free lifestyle.

But I do spike when my body feels any trauma. Sprains, bruises, fevers etc. I feel that my body over corrects itselfs and I rocket to the glucose moon.

KB

 

[Joshua Shorter]

Stress and being in a prolonged state of anxiousness, like the day before Chirstmas for a child, seem to always give me a higher than normal FBS. Or at least that is what I blame it on.

 

[AMBlass]

I think stress makes me more resistant to insulin than a direct "spike." I might notice several readings that are above normal before getting myself down, but I don't usually notice a huge jump from normal to very high. Just something I've noticed in myself.

 

[purefairydust]

It depends on the type of stress. At work when everything is going wrong yes the extra adrenaline rush can bring it up. On days where I have to break up fights, run down the stairs because of it being faster then waiting on a elevator to get to another emergency, and have the people under me acting as if this is the first day working in the correctional center. This type of stress is the same as exercise and will bring numbers up while it is going on, but afterward the numbers drop fast causing low numbers.

 

[nightwolf67]

Stress is just plain bad. Not only does it raise blood sugar, but it is said to shorten your life expectancy. Work related stress is not worth the health risks. Explain this to your boss and take a 5-10 minute walk whenever you feel stressed, it can make a world of a difference.

 

[Vytautas]

Hm... I've noticed that my BG is high when I am stressed or angry. However if I have a low I noticed a tendancy to get annoyed a whole lot easyer. When I feel a low everything just seems a whole lot more irritating. Sometimes this happens when I get a high as well. So if I find myself irritated all the time it's an indication to check my BG because I might be leaning towards one of the extremes.

 

[Valerie]

Does stress always cause high blood sugars?

I agree with what everyone has said. Most importantly I think we are all individuals and our bodies respond differently to different life factors, apart from the obvious - exercise, diabetics need sugar to compensate,- however my situation may explain a little of my answer to this question.
For 30 years of nursing and care looking after people with challenging behaviour, children, adolescents, and adults my blood sugars have never been stable. I too am a very calm and placid person and never loose my temper, but my work has involved dealing with crisis. When I have had a heavy day with a very upset individual then my BS dont go down through the day they actually rise. I became exhausted but always had normal fasting blood sugar which allowed me to start all over again the next day.
Thankfully now retired and what a difference. BS near normal and no peaks and troughs.
So for me the simple answer is yes it does. But this is for me so I cant respond for what others may feel. I hope this helps a little. Take care x

 

[Shanny]

That paints a pretty clear picture, Valerie. Glad you're enjoying your retirement with nice stable sugars now!

 

[jojeti]

I have never seen a rise or fall as a result of stress or excitement. Believe me, there are many reasons in my life to be stressed but I really have a laid back demeanor and over the years have learned to stay calm during stressful events. In fact when under stress, I become very calm... perhaps that is why I see no effect.

 

[Richard157]

Jojeti, I am very much like you. I do not see much change in my BG due to stress. Sometimes I do go low if I am very excited, but I rarely get that excited.

 

[jojeti]

Richard, now if you go low when you are excited, do you think that when excited you don't eat as much and don't realize it and even if you counted carbs right maybe you didn't eat all of them? or perhaps, now here is a theory...LOL...that was are constantly stressed but because we don't feel it we don't know it, so when we are excited for something, the stress lessens and so do the numbers? Okay, both are probably laughable theories...but heck, with this disease, one never knows...I am waiting for the day the moon aligns with my toe, my toe aligns with the wind, the wind aligns with the sun and when that happens, I can eat fresh bread out of the oven without any spike!

 

[Richard157]

Jojeti, I enjoyed your post, . I agree with part of what you said. When I am excited I am distracted and pay no attention to my feelings, until I have dropped quite low. That usually happens if I am in the high 50s. I can normally feel a low in the 70s, but not when I am excited. I don't have much trouble with this now though. I am 71 and it takes a lot to get me really excited now. :tongue:

 

[jojeti]

Richard....LOL...about taking a lot to get you excited at your age...is there where I am to say TMI (too much information)?

 

[Richard157]

Yep, Jojeti, you just hit a home run.

 

[BadThad]

Great discussion!

Personally, I've never believed the stress excuse. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems doctors are far to quick to diagnose medical issues with the generic "stress or smoking" reason. Sorry, I just don't buy it. It may temporarily increase blood pressure, but I just don't see the biological mechanisms for all the other aliments blamed on stress (or even smoking). To me it's an excuse doctors use when they don't have an answer.

OK, go ahead and beat me up now. LOL