Stress Testing

I used to get large spikes from stress too, however nearly 14 months from diagnosis it’s nowhere near as noticeable. A couple of evenings ago I had to pick up my daughter from Stansted Airport, should have been a round trip of 3 hours, a main part of the route being the infamous M25. Well it took a total of 5 1/4 hours due to four lanes being reduced to one for miles and miles! This time last year a similar experience would spike me but on getting home from Stansted I was 5.5, was very happy with that. I hope you’ll find the same as time goes on.
Oh and btw, glad your wallet turned up!

rhubarb73 said:

Thanks Rachox . How has your better reaction to stress come about do you think? Just diabetes management? Or have you added any other stuff.
Even pre-diagnosis I was thinking about taking up some mindfulness or yoga or something to balance the mind a little. For a 40 something bloke in Yorkshire though, those steps don't come easily. I'm aware this angry goldfish needs to manage his stress levels generally, which I want to be part of the next phase of my 'recovery'.

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I haven’t done anything in particular, apart from controlling my blood sugars, that has made me less irritable (my hubby only commented the other day that I was much calmer now than a year ago!) which in turn, means I don’t get so stressed which in turn again means my blood sugars stay more stable and so on...

rhubarb73 said:

I just had 2 eggs for breakfast with a little pepper - nothing spiky there.

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I can get a small spike after 2 eggs and no stress, again showing the volatility in BG.

Spikes just happen,the liver is responsible.

I expect that as we reduce our insulin resistance our body is able to respond better to the release of insulin when the BG increase. The stress hormones result in the release of glucose from our liver, but when the body is working correctly that glucose is taken up by our muscles ready to run away from the Tiger.

I used to think that stress had very little effect on glucose levels but last week I spent a full day rolling about the floor on a self defence type course, I am quite fit anyway but made sure I had my hypo treatments at hand thinking I would probably go low at some point. After two hours I did an impromptu test and I had shot up to 10.2!!!!! I have never been anywhere near that since diagnosis, I had had my normal brekkie of greek yogurt which I have every day so I know it was not down to food. After I had calmed down and the blasted day was over, I was down to normal. It really surprised me how the body can react under stress.

The better your insulin sensitivity the less of the unpredictable rising or falling of your blood sugars. Even though I'm T1 I spent many years effectively being T2 at same time and have gone from stable 8 to having a fit or the other way spiking up to over 20 just coz I was in a stressful meeting. It can be a nightmare but stick with the low carb and you'll get there!

I am on antidepressants which help me to keep great sugar level. Better than before - my diet was always good. So basically it releases my body out of stress and I need less insulin now.
But. One week before period my sugar is 17-25 and nothing helps. I don't eat carbs, use huge amounts (as for me) of insulin. Nothing.
Discussed it with many different doctors. Appeared (and I thought so!) it's because of inner stress. Simply cortisol blocks the insulin and I find myself in the situation that I can't work because my body is so tired.
Looks like I can't do anything about it. I just drink a lot of water and take Activated Charcoal pills - helps to get rid of the ketoacidosis.
Hope it helps.
And if you have any ideas how to manage this super high sugar, please let me know

rhubarb73 said:

Today I learned a lesson about the effect of stress on BGL.
The day started well at 5.3. I just had 2 eggs for breakfast with a little pepper - nothing spiky there.
Then I lost my wallet. Just for an hour (I found it) but for that hour I was dashing around getting stressed and sweaty in the sunshine.
When I found the wallet it was time to test again (and change my shirt). BGL up to 7.7. Not a super spike but high for me.
Just before lunch it was still at 7.6 despite no more food.
By teatime back to normal.
I'm not overly concerned but I thought I would post because it might help other "newbies" see that volatility in BGL is normal and can be caused by more than just food intake.
I'll be hoping for a more relaxing day tomorrow.

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Hi stress can still spike me and I believe stress and anxiety contributed to my diabetes developing but clearly as my bgs are now generally lower the spike is less. Pain too can have a similar effect. I do the Headspace mindfulness app and this has taught me how to work on my stress levels and makes for a generally flatter blood glucose on average stressy days it now takes a bigger stressor to raise them.
Would recommend mindfulness it only takes a few mins a day to learn provide you practice the method and then use in situations like the lost wallet scenario!

NessS said:

I am on antidepressants which help me to keep great sugar level. Better than before - my diet was always good. So basically it releases my body out of stress and I need less insulin now.
But. One week before period my sugar is 17-25 and nothing helps. I don't eat carbs, use huge amounts (as for me) of insulin. Nothing.
Discussed it with many different doctors. Appeared (and I thought so!) it's because of inner stress. Simply cortisol blocks the insulin and I find myself in the situation that I can't work because my body is so tired.
Looks like I can't do anything about it. I just drink a lot of water and take Activated Charcoal pills - helps to get rid of the ketoacidosis.
Hope it helps.
And if you have any ideas how to manage this super high sugar, please let me know

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I have exactly the same issue that week, I’m massively insulin resistant. My only strategy for it (I can’t change my basal dose because it takes too long to take effect) is to dribble in Novorapid every hour or so, 0.5-1 unit at a time.

Yes, stress is the enemy. Up cortisol , up adrenaline = up BSL. Even the stress of an exciting movie will do it for me.
Also I am wondering about the fact that over 14 days now, my BSLs have dictated a persistent 20 % + basal adjustment and same for bolus on my pump even after getting over sinusitis .
2 days ago the penny, cent, coin whatever, dropped. I had been requested to ease back my anti-depressant dosage 14 days ago. No "withdrawal ' effects that I have noted but it is interesting to consider whether this could elevate stress internally ??!?
How to relieve stress. The most popular (and cynical) answer is to invent a system based on belief, non-evidence but plenty of testimonials and make lots of money from it !!??
Seriously though: I do these things: engage in one or more interests - with manageable financial outlays; in a social &/or peaceful environment setting; which has/have, or can be complemented with, achievable, non-expensive and no or low competitive physical activity; can 'grow' with you in terms of challenges and complexity etc; is not an imitation of your actual employment but rather something that is vaguely complementary or even opposite to work skills/subject field; may involve interaction with people and some committee or other responsibility, if that is comfortable for you.
E.G. A photography club who do nature walks, a yoga class, building things, making things, growing things.
If my self esteem is good, if I use self-humour so that I do not take myself too seriously, use exercise to relieve stress I can be be more resilient. That does not mean that I am invincible, just realistic of my limits.
Did I ever tell you about the time I was lost in a caravan park in the pouring rain .........

My bs is so high now cant bring it down upping doses not eating many carbs even when I eat carbs makes no difference fed.up with this.
What am I doing wrong???

Madmaureen said:

My bs is so high now cant bring it down upping doses not eating many carbs even when I eat carbs makes no difference fed.up with this.
What am I doing wrong???

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What does a typical day’s food, insulin and BG levels look like, lovely?

rhubarb73 said:

Hi - it looks like you are new to this site. If so welcome. It maybe worth posting your question in the Newly Diagnosed or the Questions section of the forum and more people will see it than will read this thread. It's worth maybe giving a little info when you do such as what type of diabetes you have, how long and what meds you are on. You'll find people there who will be able to point you in right direction. Personally I haven't experienced BGL at the levels you have, and I'm a man so I don't have the menstrual cycle to deal with either.

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Thanks for the answer. I am already 12 years with diabetes - still looking for answers.
Regarding other topics where people can help me better - thanks, will do.

Madmaureen said:

My bs is so high now cant bring it down upping doses not eating many carbs even when I eat carbs makes no difference fed.up with this.
What am I doing wrong???

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To give you some of my experience: leading up to and for university exams my insulin dosages went up x 3 total dose per day. I would start with 20% increase every 2 days, quicker once i knew from the time before..
Please check with your doctor and dsn about this. And is there an end in sight for your stressful situation.?
Also if I cut out carbs to try to limit the bsl rise I would get ketotic and that made me more insulin resistant. So I was advised, up insulin, keep having some carbs.
And with a pump I check that the needle insert is not bent and so not releasing full doses, I check that I have no urine symptoms ( and if there is not other explanation for high bsls get a urine test done to rule out infection as a cause of high BSL) ? sinusius or tooth , skin infection etc.
Best Wishes for a speedy resolution !!

NessS said:

Thanks for the answer. I am already 12 years with diabetes - still looking for answers.
Regarding other topics where people can help me better - thanks, will do.

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Hi @NessS,
I am also of the 'wrong' gender but once a year when I have my flu shot I have to put both my pump's basal and bolus doses up by 30% or so for 5 days . Not as easy to do on insulin injections. When we fight off infection (and vaccinations are like that), we need more insulin in the process as our body is stressed or challenged.
Also during uni exams (many moons ago) I would need to put up my insulin doses x 3 normal per day until all were complete.
I did not step from normal to x3 overnight but would build up over several days after the first time, which took a week. So stress takes many forms. Best wishes and please keep posting !!

Madmaureen said:

My bs is so high now cant bring it down upping doses not eating many carbs even when I eat carbs makes no difference fed.up with this.
What am I doing wrong???

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All we can do is more exercise to the point of exhaustion and low carb diet.Everything else is beyond our powers.