On this page

Diabetes and Stress

Overview

When stressed, your adrenal glands release 'stress hormones' (i.e., adrenaline and cortisol) into your bloodstream, resulting in increased blood sugar.

When blood sugar remains high, it makes diabetes control difficult.

Stress can also contribute to high blood pressure, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and suppress the immune system.

Stress can cause mood changes and result in worries that affect sleep.

When not managed well, the impact of this stress can affect your personal, work and social functioning.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor, nurse or healthcare professional.

Signs of stress

Signs that stress may be out of control and further action is needed:

Worries and anxious thoughts
Irritability, frustration, anger
Low mood or depression
Changes in appetite (eating too much or not enough)
Significant weight loss or gain
Teeth grinding

Loss of memory, concentration and difficulties completing tasks
Sleeping too much or too little
Stomach discomfort (e.g., nausea, constipation, diarrhoea)
Headaches
Trembling
Profuse sweating

Diabetes distress

Diabetes distress is the emotional distress from living with diabetes and the difficulties faced with daily self-management.

Strong negative emotions from living with diabetes can happen with checking blood sugar, taking medication, keeping up with physical activity and eating healthy.

These feelings may be unique to you. Diabetes distress can be managed.

What can cause diabetes distress

Newly diagnosed diabetes
Not reaching target goals for managing diabetes
Loss of meaning of life, direction and focus in life
Start and persistence of long-term complications
Diabetes self-care expenses
Unclear goals or direction for diabetes care
Feeling disconnected, unheard or misunderstood by diabetes care providers
Lack of psychosocial-emotional support
Feeling burn out from the burden of living with diabetes

Diabetes and depression

Have you experienced or noticed changes in

Sleep
Interest
Guilt
Energy

Concentration
Appetite
Nervousness
Suicidal thoughts

Living with diabetes can be stressful, and limit your involvement in pleasurable activities.

Ongoing emotional struggles of coping with diabetes can include feeling you are constantly failing at managing your diabetes, feeling hopeless, fearing the long-term complications and feeling very alone.

Physical symptoms including fatigue, low energy, poor sleep, appetite and concentration.

Depressive symptoms impact self-care, reduce motivation in taking care of yourself, and can contribute to hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia.

Depression can be managed.

Section:

CONTRIBUTED BY

Ministry of Health