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Stress

N

Nick25

Active Member
Bit strange to be asking because I have been T1 for well over 50 years and have coped with most things affecting glucose control over the years but I seem to be experiencing fast rising glucose levels over last few days. I have been under an unusual level of stress at the same time. I know stress is sometimes mentioned as a factor but bluntly I have not taken that much notice before because it does not seem to have affected my glucose control that much in the past despite previous stress periods.
Anyone offer information how it might manifest itself . As a sharp rise , a generally higher base level , difficulty in driving back down?
 
Sorry you are experiencing stress at the moment @Nick25
I think my liver's reaction - yes, it is just another excuse for glucose dumping - depends upon the type of stress and how high my BG gets.
I have been recording a few webinars for work recently, I am not comfortable in front of the camera so I get stressed. My BG rises as I prepare for the recording stays high during and then, a normal correction sorts it out. If I remember, I increase the temporary basal on my pump an hour before and until the end which helps. Otherwise, I can track my stress on my CGM as a rise when I start thinking about it and then flattening out when it is over.
I also have a broken elbow so my body is "physically stressed", especial as recovery is taking a few months. This manifest itself in a need for a continuous rise in insulin dose. For the last 3 weeks, I have been on 160% of my usual insulin needs. It is probably exaggerated by a huge reduction in exercise which, in addition to increasing insulin sensitivity, is a good stress reliever.

On top of all this is the insulin resistance that comes with a high BG. If I don't "predict" the stress, my BG will rise to a level which needs extra correction. I need at least 2 x my correction factor when my BG is higher than 15mmol/l and takes longer to start working.
 
In Response said:
Sorry you are experiencing stress at the moment @Nick25
I think my liver's reaction - yes, it is just another excuse for glucose dumping - depends upon the type of stress and how high my BG gets.
I have been recording a few webinars for work recently, I am not comfortable in front of the camera so I get stressed. My BG rises as I prepare for the recording stays high during and then, a normal correction sorts it out. If I remember, I increase the temporary basal on my pump an hour before and until the end which helps. Otherwise, I can track my stress on my CGM as a rise when I start thinking about it and then flattening out when it is over.
I also have a broken elbow so my body is "physically stressed", especial as recovery is taking a few months. This manifest itself in a need for a continuous rise in insulin dose. For the last 3 weeks, I have been on 160% of my usual insulin needs. It is probably exaggerated by a huge reduction in exercise which, in addition to increasing insulin sensitivity, is a good stress reliever.

On top of all this is the insulin resistance that comes with a high BG. If I don't "predict" the stress, my BG will rise to a level which needs extra correction. I need at least 2 x my correction factor when my BG is higher than 15mmol/l and takes longer to start working.
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Thanks for prompt response. It does sound as if the stress might be the factor. The particular issue that seems to have triggered this episode will hopefully pass in a few days so I hope the high levels (coupled with attempts to address them) will only last that long. Still strange though to experience this for the first time ( at least to such a noticeable extent).
 
Hello @Nick25 Stress is one of those variables which is difficult to both predict and to manage in regards to glucose/insulin. It releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which activate the liver to dump glucose for an impending 'fight/flight' situation which makes life for t1d much harder, avoidance would be ideal but as we live in the real world it's unavoidable. Yes you have to correct based on the glucose reading but it's difficult to predict how long it will last and inevitably at some point levels will come down and if you're prone to rage bolusing a high, it can very often be a crash, so extra caution needs to be taken around these events.

I work in a stressful environment so I manage mine by going for a walk in a green space, practising mindful breathing and talking about it when trying to keep my levels in check, I hope this comes to pass for you soon.
 
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