Mental health
and diabetes

Stress and Anxiety

Stress unfortunately is a part of our daily life. Tracking blood sugar levels, proper insulin doses, getting active and changing lifelong eating habits – it’s all a great amount to take on board.

If you are affected by stress you may not take care of yourself as well as you should. Stress will also affect blood sugar- releasing hormones that can cause blood sugar to spike and drop unpredictably.

Anxiety is the natural response to stress- feelings of fear and apprehension about what comes next. This is especially prevalent within those who deal with long term illnesses and their potential complications like diabetes.

You Can Lower your Stress and Anxiety by:

• Scheduling a visit with a mental health professional: Therapy is the best way to deal with stress and anxiety. Patients are taught to recognize and deal with stress. Consider making a therapist part of your diabetic health care team.
• Getting active: exercise lowers stress hormones and can raise the levels of the body’s natural mood elevators.
• Talking to someone: Limiting stress and anxiety starts with identification on what is causing it. Sometimes venting can help you identify and tackle the main stressors in your life
• Taking A break: Take time for yourself, do things that make you feel relaxed and recharged.

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Resources

Bermuda Mental Health Foundation