In today’s world, it seems the demands put upon us just seem to increase every day. Perhaps you have a boss who is ever more demanding in what is expected of your performance, or maybe you are self-employed, trying to keep your business afloat. Add to that the demands of children and other family obligations, and you have your hands full
Stress can be either mental or physical, and both take a toll on your overall health and well-being. It causes your body to behave as if it is being attacked, and continued stress puts your body into perpetual fight-or-flight mode.
In this condition, hormone levels skyrocket in an effort to release stored energy contained in glucose and fat, so that the body may then do whatever is necessary to escape danger. For those with diabetes who already have a compromised insulin response, the glucose cannot be converted easily into energy, so it accumulates in the blood stream. In addition to increased blood sugar levels, other harmful hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine are released into the body.
Short-term stress generally can be recovered from fairly easily. Unfortunately, most of the stress we encounter today is more cumulative. It can take a significant amount of time, up to months, for the effects of stress to manifest themselves physically.
Damage to the body from stress can happen to anyone, but for those with diabetes, the effects can be significantly pronounced. While the healthy body has mechanisms in place to filter out high levels of hormones and glucose, the system of a diabetic person is already compromised. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to blood sugar levels that swing uncontrollably.
Anyone who has experience with diabetes knows that the effects of uncontrolled blood sugar levels can have serious health consequences, including blindness and kidney failure. It can also act as a precursor to cardiovascular disease.
Anyone who leads a stressful life – which includes most of us – needs to take measures to reduce the amount of stress exerted on our bodies. Exercise helps tremendously, but there are a few other simple things you can do as well:
· Eliminate caffeine. It only adds to the stress level your body is exposed to. It raises blood pressure and interferes with the body’s ability to process sugar.
· Try doing some deep breathing exercises. You can take ten minutes out of the day and do them right behind your desk without ever having to get up out of your chair. Take a deep breath in, then let out as much air as you can.
· Close your eyes and focus on releasing the tension in your muscles, beginning at your head and traveling all the way to your toes. This is a great exercise to do in bed – it can actually help you fall asleep.
· Kill your negativity. Replace bad thought with good ones.
· Take a hot bath. You would be amazed how relaxing it can be
In addition to these simple exercises, consider taking up yoga or meditation. Anything you can do to help your body and mind relax and de-stress will only contribute to your overall health. For the diabetic, these simple exercises can help you keep your body – and your blood sugar – under control.
Finally, remember to get plenty of sleep. The body cannot rejuvenate if it is not properly rested.
If you employ these simple tactics you will find yourself ready to take on your boss – even if you just happen to be your own boss.
