Stress and Diabetes: 3 Reasons Healing Nerves Helps

Stress is a natural response to problems that arise. It stimulates the release of chemicals that trigger a fight-or-flight response. In short bursts, these responses are relatively harmless, but long-term, they do more damage than you may realize. In fact, experts believe stress increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or exacerbating existing symptoms.

Reducing stress isn’t always easy, but it is crucial to stay healthy physically and mentally. Therapeutic recreation and fun activities, emotional support, nutrition education, and medication information are part of diabetes care. They’ll teach you methods for recognizing triggers and managing stress as it occurs. Learning how stress affects diabetes is also vital.

Woman holding her head and looking distressed at home, representing stress and diabetes and the emotional impact of managing blood sugar levels.

According to studies, stress and diabetes are linked in several ways. Stress hormones lead to:

  • Metabolic changes by increasing blood sugar,
  • Altering glucose absorption,
  • Increasing insulin resistance.

Over time, these changes may influence diabetes development, which may increase stress levels as you try to manage the condition. Let’s take a closer look at how these issues are related in the following sections.

1. Stress Overloads the Nervous System in Diabetes

According to experts, stress triggers a chain reaction of events in the central nervous system. Stressors induce the release of cortisol and other hormones. Cortisol causes proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates to break down, creating energy, while suppressing the immune system.

These changes are fine in small doses. However, when white blood cells are consistently exposed to cortisol, they begin to resist its effects. Stress-related pro-inflammatory responses are triggered, increasing the risk of insulin resistance.

These complications of chronic stress may contribute to the development of diabetes. However, it’s also concerning for those who already have the condition. A compromised immune system and higher blood sugar make existing conditions difficult to manage.

2. Healing nerves lowers inflammation and pain

Chronic inflammation from stress causes several responses that damage the nerves. Those inflammatory responses trigger chemical reactions that damage cells. High blood sugar increases free radical formation. Circulation slows, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching the nerves.

If stress is causing nerve damage in diabetes, the first signs are tingling, burning, or sharp pains. Lowering stress levels may heal those nerves by reducing inflammation, depending on the extent of the damage.

You may need to adjust your lifestyle by incorporating healthy meals, sufficient sleep, and regular physical activity into your routine. Your doctor may also recommend medication, rehab therapy, counseling, and other medical treatments if necessary.

3. Balanced nerves support better glucose control

Stress isn’t easy to avoid, since unexpected issues arise when least expected. However, it’s possible to find ways to manage your response to stress. Doing so requires regulating your nervous system to keep your body’s functions at their peak.

Balancing your nerves isn’t easy since it requires you to focus on calming your thoughts rather than the stressful event. However, once you’ve relaxed your mind, your central nervous system takes over. Cortisol levels drop, blood sugar levels decrease, and circulation improves. As the stress leaves your body, your diabetes symptoms react accordingly, preventing further damage.

Resources:

  1. PMC, Sept. 22, 2022, Stress-Induced Diabetes
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9561544/
  2. PMC, May 15, 2015, Toxic stress, inflammation and symptomatology of chronic complications in diabetes
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4434076/
  3. PMC, Oct. 22, 2024, Overview of oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11494684/
  4. LLUH, Stress and Nerve Pain: What’s the Connection?
    https://lluh.org/services/neuropathic-therapy-center/blog/stress-and-nerve-pain-whats-connection
  5. Hackensack Meridian Health, Aug. 6, 2024, How to Use Nervous System Regulation Exercises to Reclaim Your Calm
    https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/healthu/2024/08/06/how-to-use-nervous-system-regulation-exercises-to-reclaim-your-calm
This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.