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Trouble with stress

Richard F

Richard F

Well-Known Member
Messages
293
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Normal day to day I'm fine, reasonably stable, and (importantly) predictable.

Now stress is a different matter, high high high, pump pump pump, (omnipod) crash crash crash.

I've even set up a different bolus profile for stress.

I know the answer is to manage the stress, but it's just not always possible. Short periods, the odd day or so is relatively easy to cope with. But I'm in for a tricky period 6-12 months, perhaps I should take up meditation!
 
You may be joking about the meditation (I'm not sure) but, putting diabetes management to one side, stress is not good for anyone. As you say, diabetes adds an extra layer to it.

I am sorry you have a period of stress coming up. As you know it will be long and pronounced, you need to come up with (non diabetes) tools for managing it whether it is meditation, exercise or something else.

Running and bread making are my two stress busters. Running is short (only about 30 minutes) and kneading gives me the chance to take my frustrations on an innocent lump of dough whilst creating something.
 
Hi @Richard F

I have the same reaction to stress, the hormones from stress make me insulin resistant but my stress highs are short spikes, I tend to take a small correction rather than chase the high and then wait for it to fall, perhaps keep a log of your reactions but try to ease off on the corrections as you know there will come a crash point.

Joking aside, meditation is a really good way to centre yourself if you are experiencing stress, or simply learning to breathe properly can calm a stressful mind too, it depends on the situation, if you can take a walk or do some gentle exercise that will also help.
 
Excess stress is horrible for anyone of course but when you have diabetes it's like a double whammy. I'm not a person who is particularly stressed (I think) but sometimes my body tells me otherwise. I was waiting to appear at an appeal hearing (to do with me having challenged a Line Manager over a decision relating to my role & part time work), I wasn't feeling stressed as I'd done all my research but when I checked my glucose levels they had shot up into the teens! I haven't seen a reading like that for years!!!
 
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