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    World Diabetes Day: Manage stress; it is affecting your response to insulin

    Synopsis

    Stress is associated with unhealthy lifestyle like poor sleep pattern, bad eating habits, etc.

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    Does stress cause diabetes?
    Dr Peeyush Jain

    The proposal of Thomas Willis of 17th century that prolonged grief and melancholia (depression) is a potential cause of diabetes has been supported by recent several population-based studies. Chronic anxiety, depression, general emotional stress, sleep disturbances, and possibly anger, and hostility are associated with increase in risk of adult onset (Type 2) diabetes.

    A British survey (British Household Panel Survey) concluded that psychological distress was associated with 33 percent increase in the risk of diabetes over 18 years.

    Another large study from Sweden found that those with low resilience to stress were 50 percent more likely to have diabetes over next 25 years than those with better ability to cope. Too little (less than 5 hours) or too much (more than 8 hours) of sleep also increase the risk by about 50 percent. Whether job stress as such or a large number of adverse life events increase the risk of diabetes is not so certain.

    The reason why stress may increase the risk of diabetes is not difficult to understand. Stress is associated with unhealthy lifestyle - lack of leisure time physical activity, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol abuse, and sleep disturbances. It may also reduce natural immunity.

    Several stress hormones blunt the response to insulin produced by pancreas. So, in a person predisposed to diabetes either genetically or due to high calorie diet, physical inactivity, or weight gain, stress may be an additional insult to the injury, precipitating diabetes which could otherwise be prevented or at least delayed by a healthier lifestyle including a relatively stress free life.

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    Several stress hormones blunt the response to insulin produced by pancreas.

    The current pandemic of COVID 19 has changed the rules of home routine and work ethics. It has not only led to a general increase in anxiety levels amongst the masses but also taken a toll on physical activity due to restriction of movement and many people have gained undesirable weight due to unmindful consumption of calorie dense foods in a stressful environment.

    There is a real risk of poor control and a spurt in the number of new cases of diabetes. To avert this, it is important to be aware of the importance of healthy foods and snacking that means curtailing sugar and fat rich processed foods, particularly fried sweets and snacks.

    A healthy diet should incorporate a reasonable amount of fresh fruits, nuts, and green leafy vegetable, keeping in mind that even an excess of cereals is detrimental to health in general, and instrumental in promoting weight gain and propensity to develop diabetes in a predisposed person. Coupled with that, aerobic activity like brisk walking for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour a day and adequate sleep are also very important.

    A healthy diet and physical activity also tends to bring down stress level besides other measures to control it.

    - The author is Director Cardiology, Fortis-Escorts Heart Institute, Okhla Road, New Delhi.


    (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)

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