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Stress and Type II Diabetes

snag

snag

Member
Messages
9
Location
Lincoln, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
I have recently had cause to carefully examine my lifestyle in an attempt to identify factors that may have either caused my diabetes, or to have had an agravating impact on the condition - i.e. have caused the condition to worsen. I am particularly interested to know if there is any research to show a link between diabetes (onset or worsening, or both) and increased strss levels i.e. long working hours, irregular meals, or even threats against life and property.

I would appreciate it if any members here can add to my understanding, and/or point me in the direction of authoritative information. For info, I am now 55 and overweight. I have slightly raised BP (controlled by tablets), and was diagnosed with Type 2 in early 2003 at a time of stressful working conditions coupled with a significant threat to my life. My first consuktant opined that I had probably had diabetes for up to 10 - 15 years prior to diagnosis, without being aware of it. Could those circumstances caused or worsened my condition to such an extent that it suddenly appeared.

Many thanks.
 
Hi snag.

Here are some links to articles about Stress and Diabetes. They may help you in understanding the condition. I think most if not all of us have had stress of one form or another. Part of life really ?

http://www.iddtinternational.org/health ... stress.htm

http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/stress.jsp

http://diabetes.webmd.com/features/stress-diabetes

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/diabetes/201169.html

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2008/07July/Page ... srisk.aspx

There are many more if you search the net.
 
You have diabetes because you chose the wrong grandparents. There is strong inherited factor for T2. I also think that the weight gain - due to large amounts of circualting blood glucose in teh presence of large amounts of insulin, due to insulin resistance - is a symptom of rather than cause of T2 diabetes.

Some of your life experiences may have speeded up your developing diabetes. I have had a very stressful and distressing lifestyle before my diagnosis as I was the carer for someone who had a serious health problem, my diet was absolute ****. Large quantities of high carb comfort food and carb based meals combined with little exercise and a long term problem with weight.

Combined with the stress hormone cortisol, which does have an impact on your body's insulin use, I was an accident waiting to happen. I did do a bit of reading aruond on cortisol and see it may be implicated in other health problems too, including my Roseaca

Even without the stress I believe I would have developed T2 diabetes - I had gestational diabetes in 1997 and a strong family history and showed some insulin resistance about 3 years ago. I think the stress brought my developing diabetes forward a few years. My lifestlye factors, I think, made it inevitable at some point :? I'm very grateful to the anxiety attack (complete with chest pain :shock: :? ) that took me to the doctor and started me on the road to diagnosis and improved health - not all stress is bad!

I found the information I read on http://www.bloodsugar101.com gave me something I could work with because it took the blame (T2 diabetics are fat lazy slobs who brought their condition on themselves) away. However, if you go there remember it is an American website and their numbers are measured differntly - divide by 1.12, then that answer by 18 to get a number you would see on your own UK meter. Simples :roll:
 
Thanks for that - it has given me some useful links. My next question is:

What impact, if any, is a DVT likely to have in a type 2 diabetic, where the DVT causes circulatory system in the leg? Will it cause peripheral neuropathy ? Would it make peripheral neuropathy more likely - predisposing the DVT sufferer to damage in the foot as a result of the damaged circulatory system.
 
Further to my post above, regarding the relationship, if any, between DVT and Type II Diabetes, does post-thrombotic syndrome impact on type II diabetes in any significant way? All thoughts and information gratefully received.

Many thanks.
 
I think those are questions that you really need to ask a doctor for his opinion as they are very complicated and I suspect even then it will be more of an educated guess than an answer. I understand that you need to understand why you have this illness but I fear you are only gonna have one set of questions answered only for them to pose additional questions.
 
I think FordPrefect is right here. We are all lay people, no 'experts' as such. Just all got opinions and boy, do we give them when asked !!

This, however, is a very technical thing you are asking and is also subjective. I don't think any one person has the correct answer. That is why you have to read up on this yourself and form your own opinions. They may be right, they may be wrong ? There are many self help books around and also excellent reading about the causes of stress and other illnesses. They are usually written by experts in the subject and I am sure you can evaluate the facts for yourself.

I would imagine if you are in contact with an Endocrinologist or similar you could get some help with your questions and answers......me, I haven't a clue.
 
I tested my BG, had a row with my husband,forgot I had tested.Mid-test realised **** already did this,but carried on having stuckmy finger.The row raised my BG 4 points ! So I'm a firm believer in de-stressing now :o
 
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