Stress Test

[Captain Glucose]

Hi all,

Have any of you who are newly diagnosed had anxiety at the very moment you check your levels?

I'm wondering if a surge of adrenalin/cortisol just before the test can skew results significantly or whether stress has more of a cumulative effect?

I remember reading on another forum that someone noticed a huge (nearly 7 mmol) spike in their levels after thinking they forgot their credit card.

 

[andcol]

only the first ever test which took me 15 mins to pluck up the courage to prick my finger Whether that had an impact I doubt as the number was low oh and it took me 3 strips

 

[Captain Glucose]

only the first ever test which took me 15 mins to pluck up the courage to prick my finger Whether that had an impact I doubt as the number was low oh and it took me 3 strips

That sounds all too familiar; I've blazed through the strips this last week.

I think I'm suffering the effects of trying not to be anxious, with the obvious result of becoming more anxious

 

[ally1]

i find stress affects my readings
last wednesday i was told i had traits of bipolar, took a test and was 17.5

 

[noblehead]

Hi all,

Have any of you who are newly diagnosed had anxiety at the very moment you check your levels?

I'm wondering if a surge of adrenalin/cortisol just before the test can skew results significantly or whether stress has more of a cumulative effect?

I remember reading on another forum that someone noticed a huge (nearly 7 mmol) spike in their levels after thinking they forgot their credit card.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/stress-and-blood-glucose-levels.html

 

[Mike d]

Hi @ally1

Stress can contribute ... no question about that.

What was your reading prior to the 17.5

 

[Captain Glucose]

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/stress-and-blood-glucose-levels.html

Thanks,

I had read that piece, but at the bottom it mentions that it is a more of a long term cumulative effect due a buildup of those chemicals in the system.

I'm interested to know if anyone has observed a marked/rapid increase in their blood sugars over a short space of time following an episode of anxiety or a stressful event? I.e tested at 2pm 6.0, tested at 2.15pm, 10.0 in the absence of food intake during that period?

 

[andcol]

I think I have read somewhere that raised adrenaline levels cause the liver to release glucose for your flight or fight response. So the answer may be yes

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thanks,

I had read that piece, but at the bottom it mentions that it is a more of a long term cumulative effect due a buildup of those chemicals in the system.

I'm interested to know if anyone has observed a marked/rapid increase in their blood sugars over a short space of time following an episode of anxiety or a stressful event? I.e tested at 2pm 6.0, tested at 2.15pm, 10.0 in the absence of food intake during that period?

Did you re-test that 10? Our meters are not wholly accurate, they do throw out some rogue figures from time to time, you may have contaminated the strip, not had properly washed and dried hands and so on. With any unexpected reading like that I would re-test immediately, and probably 3 times in all.

 

[Captain Glucose]

Did you re-test that 10? Our meters are not wholly accurate, they do throw out some rogue figures from time to time, you may have contaminated the strip, not had properly washed and dried hands and so on. With any unexpected reading like that I would re-test immediately, and probably 3 times in all.

Sorry Bluetit, that was just a random example, not a result I'd had.

The highest jump in result I've had after breakfast has been from 4.5 to 10 in 1 hour. this normally drops to around 6.5 to 7 in hour 2 and 4.5 in hour 3, although this morning I felt stressed and had a much higher than normal reading at hour 2 (8mmol), which threw me a bit and made me wonder if my anxiety state impacted levels in some way.

 

[Brunneria]

i find stress affects my readings
last wednesday i was told i had traits of bipolar, took a test and was 17.5

Oh ally, that must have been a shock!

Who was it told you that? And are you checking it out?

(And yes, stress can send bg up in both the long and short term)

 

[ally1]

Oh ally, that must have been a shock!

Who was it told you that? And are you checking it out?

(And yes, stress can send bg up in both the long and short term)

the pdoc told me on wednesday, i tested as soon as i got home
over the last few days, readings have been highish as am worrying

 

[ally1]

Hi @ally1

Stress can contribute ... no question about that.

What was your reading prior to the 17.5

it was 6.1 prior to seeing the pdoc and hadn,t eaten

 

[AndBreathe]

the pdoc told me on wednesday, i tested as soon as i got home
over the last few days, readings have been highish as am worrying

Ally, I know from personal experience, my numbers go up a bit if I get a shock, or when I'm worried about something. I believe it's our body's way of trying to fuel whatever we need in those circumstances - whether it's fuelling our brains to do some thinking or fuelling our bodies if we need to be very physically active.

Reading the meter can be painful sometimes.

Look after yourself.

 

[Maja08]

I live in denmark and study at syddansk university, and when i had to go to a final exam i tested my blood sugar levels and it was 15,6! I did not take any insulin, because I knew it was because of my anxiety/stress. When i came out and finally was done i measured it again and it was 5.9.
So yes, i have absolutely noticed it!