Why Stress Can Trigger Diabetes

Diabetes is not only related to food containing sugar, but also psychological condition. A study claims that depression or stress also can trigger diabetes. In the other hand diabetes can also trigger depression.

“It has been hypothesized that diabetes-depression relationship is two way,” researchers said according to Times of India.

Together with his team, An Pan, from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, assessed the relationship between diabetes and depression among 65,381 women aged 50 to 75 years in 1996.

All respondents were classified as people with problems of depression, had symptoms of depression, using antidepressant medication, or have been diagnosed with depression by a doctor. Over 10 years of study, 2,844 women were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 7,415 having depression problems.

Results showed that depressed women are 17 percent more likely to develop diabetes, after controlling for other risk factors, such as physical activity and body mass index (BMI). And people who use the antidepressant had a 25 percent higher risk of developing diabetes than those who did not experience depression.

Women with diabetes are 29 percent more likely to develop depression. Women who take insulin for diabetes have increased further risk of 53 per cent higher than women without diabetes.

The results showed that depression which may have an effect on the risk for diabetes is weight and not physically active. In addition, the findings strengthen the observation that diabetes is associated with stress.

“Future studies are needed to confirm our findings in different populations and to investigate potential mechanisms underlying these relationships,” researchers said in their study in the ‘Archives of Internal Medicine’ 22 November edition.

Symptoms of diabetes are shown with high blood sugar levels and an inability to produceinsulin. Generally characterized by frequent urination, easy thirst, blurred vision, and numbness in hands or feet. While symptoms of depression such as anxiety, hopelessness or guilt, lack of sleep, loss of appetite or excessive, to the loss of interest in life.

High levels of depression will affect blood sugar and insulin metabolism, through the release of stress hormones or cortisol. While diabetes can lead to chronic stress. So the relationship of diabetes and depression is not just issue of unhealthy lifestyle, but also has a biological relevance. Consider yourself to be or on any alternative therapy, such as aromatherapy, hypnotherapy and etc to reduce and manage your stress level.