Stress!!

Sing loudly.

 

It's hard to say on stress really, as everyone is different. For me, if Im stressed my levels drop like anything with hardly any notice. So I work as a trainer, so I have to check before the training session that Im ok and that Im not going low, thankfully I can now do this easier with a sensor but even so. If you're going up, then why not add a bit more insulin at that time. You dont say if you're on a pump or pens? Please share.

 

If there is, I wish I'd known about it before now. Stress has always been an influential factor for me and I can't get rid of the feeling that it caused my diabetes in the first place. It certainly made control almost impossible as I found that stressful issues would take precedence over everything else and stop me minimising the damage from diabetes. Stupidly, I've always had the 'ability' to hide my stress from others. People always think I'm calm! This is just a defence mechanism on my part.

So I think you've made an important step in recognising openly what stress does to you. Most jobs involve stress, but some more than others. So looking for a job that doesn't do this to you might be part of your game plan.. Just telling yourself this might actually help you: "This isn't the only job in the world, I might just look and see what other opportunities there are".

Obviously, you can treat your stress with extra insulin, but it's not a long term solution because, as you say, it can lead to swings, poor control and weight gain, and it's not addressing the underlying issue which seems to be, at the moment, dissatisfaction with your conditions of work.

 

Hi, would agree that actually if you're suffering stress perhaps there are other ways to de-stress and actually Im sure you're like most T1's they stress about having extra insulin and running high, means you cant do your job at all. The theory of finding other ways to destress is fine, but in practical terms you are left with a situation that needs dealing. Could you perhaps on the days that you kind of know you're going to be stressed through it add more long term insulin rather than the short acting? Or could you try doing a bit of low carb day instead in which case you're not giving any more insulin just adjusting your food intake which may sit more comfortably with you? Hope things sort themselves out for you. Sally

 

Like you I find stress at work to be one of the main drivers of my highs - I have to purposefully take more insulin on days when I know I will be stressed. This to a certain extent makes me a bit calmer, because at least I don't then stress about being too high!

In parallel I have found yoga to be incredibly helpful - a lot of the breathing exercises are very calming and just taking a moment during a busy day to stop and think can often minimise my anxiety.

 

Stress at work is affected by so many different factors, as is blood sugar control. it's rather easy to under-treat, over-treat, try-to-ignore-and-get-by until you have a moment to think. Keep work stress in check and don't let it take over. It's good advice from @ArtemisBow. Make sure your bg control and relaxation are given priority. Hopefully if you keep this in mind, work will seem less stressful.
Yoga has been beneficial for me too. 30 minutes or so of stretching, breathing exercise and meditation is grounding, calming, and promotes body awareness and good health at any age.

 

Hello All,
very good advise given, and yes we all handle stress differently, i have been a type 1 for over 50 years and for me, i use to increase my long acting insulin in small increments, and reduce my short acting to suit, i would never get to upset if my BG fluctuated all day as long as the average was under 12 on those stressful days, and when things settle down, i would return to my normal amounts. My thoughts are that you are better to have a good average than to risk hypo's chasing the highs, after all that is what your HBa1c is. We all know in this day and age it is not easy to find a job that suits our diabetic needs, and are we better to learn to deal with the cards we are delt with, and make the best of our situation. This has been my philosophy and has served me well all these years, hope this may help and best of luck with your stress levels.
Best Regards
Toby