Stress, anger, anxiety: Three leading "activators" of blood sugar
Experts consider World Diabetes Day 2025 as the time to speak frankly about the role of emotions for people at risk or being treated for diabetes.
Dr. Sohail Durani, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Fortis CDOC Hospital in Gurgaon (Gurugram), India, analyzed: "When people are in a state of prolonged stress, the hormone cortisol increases, causing blood sugar to escalate even when you eat very moderately".
Prolonged stress is the most common factor: Work pressure, family responsibilities, financial burdens make the body constantly in a state of warning, reducing the ability to control glucose. Many cases of sudden increases in blood sugar come from psychological pressure rather than meals.
Forced aggression is equally dangerous: When emotions are suppressed, adrenaline is secreted continuously, pushing blood sugar up and making it easier for patients to overeat to "calm down". This is a harmful whirlwind that many people do not recognize.
Anxiety and overthinking: This triggers the liver to release glucose into the blood even though the body does not need more energy. Just one night of insomnia due to worrying is enough to increase blood sugar the next morning significantly.
Untreated negative emotions are the cause of endocrine disorders and insulin resistance, which are the foundation for most cases of erratic blood sugar, says Dr. Mukesh Batra, a behavioral health expert in Mumbai.
Pain, loneliness are two factors that are quiet but deadly
Prolonged sadness: Loss of loved ones, broken marriages, mental shocks... reduce serotonin, disrupt sleep and cause the body to recover poorly. People in pain often eat less but have high blood sugar, because the body releases glucose to fight.
Loneliness and lack of social connection are a form of simmering stress: Lonely people secrete more cortisol than normal, thereby reducing insulin effectiveness. They also easily choose sugary foods to find temporary enjoyment, further affecting blood sugar.
Emotions are hard to see but really affect health. Early identification, sharing more with relatives, and seeking psychological support when needed is a way to help patients and their families maintain stable blood sugar, and is also a way to maintain a sustainable life amid today's chaos.
