Scientists Probe Link Between Stress and Diabetes

Among some of the most significant effects of contemporary times of the twenty-first-century is the resulting fast-paced lifestyle that people live. Multi-tasking is common in our modern world, and in many careers, necessary in order to compete.

Link between depression and diabetes

In a large metropolitan city it is not uncommon to see a pedestrian navigating the busy streets with a cell phone attached to each ear. And although people of our generation are living with a higher standard of living than that of their parents and grandparents, the benefits are not achieved without costs to both physical and mental health.

The Higher the Levels of Stress, the Higher the Chance of Becoming Diabetic

Researchers measured work stress and depression associated with high levels of anxiety and were astonished to find that some of the effects of our fast-paced lifestyle had damaging health consequences such as diabetes.

A foremost researcher, Dr. Sherita Hill Golden of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, studied a culturally-varied collection of nearly five thousand men and women within the age ranges of forty-five to eighty-five years of age. The research was conducted over a three year period and the findings were astounding. The study uncovered a disturbing link between people with excessive sadness and those that were diagnosed with diabetes. They also found that the more profound the symptoms, the greater the risk of becoming afflicted. In fact, those that have more severe anxiety have a higher risk of becoming stricken with the most typical form of the disease than others.

According to a study that was conducted at the University of Toronto, the association between stress and diabetes is significant. In fact, Type 2 diabetes, also called adult-onset diabetes, has been linked with severe depression, which is also an important cause of decline in cognitive skills and Alzheimer disease.

Anxiety and Sadness Make Diabetic Treatment More Difficult

Not only have anxiety and sadness been shown to be contributing factors to the disease, they can also make the effects worse. Even if every step has been taken to control the disease and a physician's advise has been followed precisely, the effects of anxiety and sadness on a diabetic patient make treatment more difficult. Many physicians will prescribe anxiety reducing regimens in order to help with tension, which in-turn will help the treatment of the disease.

How Prevalent is this Disease in the United States?

In the United States alone, there are nearly twenty million diabetics and that number is growing daily.

What Can be Done to Reduce Anxiety?

Physicians emphasize the importance of deep breathing exercises, which have been proven to have a positive effect on tackling anxiety. In people that are under the effect of severe anxiety, their breathing pattern is shallow and brisk. By practicing deep breathing, one can achieve a soothing effect on the mind which helps to counter the effects of anxiety.

A popular spiritual and ascetic discipline which helps to maintain healthy levels of anxiety is Yoga. Specific body postures and controlled breathing exercises offer a good tool for anxiety management and relaxation. In addition to managing tension, yoga can help combat weight problems, back pain, insomnia, burn out and a host of other anxiety-induced problems. Yoga includes quiet movements that help to control concentration and move the focus away from tension towards a more calming moment which gives the body a chance to improve circulation and slow down after a chaotic day.

In addition, a good meal plan which consists of well-balanced proportions of healthy choices is an important step towards regulating blood sugar as well as improving overall health, including anxiety. A licensed dietician or endocrinologist can help to consult diabetics on which foods to avoid and which can help maintain good health. Knowing what to avoid in one's diet can be confusing, and a professional health care provider can make the journey towards optimal health easier.

If you have any questions or concerns about stress, depression or diabetes, it is imperative that you speak to a professional. There are common screening tests that can be conducted in the privacy of your physician's office. Start on the path towards good health by addressing any stress issues now, before they can possibly develop into long term health problems.

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