Recent experimental studies suggest that managing stress increases social support and self-efficacy and decreases blood sugar levels. Stress, a common problem among diabetic patients, plays an important role in the development and intensification of diabetes. Stress has a dual role in the development of diabetes – it is a cause and yet a consequence of diabetes. Stress induces high levels of blood glucose, while diabetes and its consequences result in increased levels of stress and other physical, mental, and behavioral disorders.
How does stress induce high blood glucose levels? The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis is our body's stress response system, which directs the release of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) on recognizing stress. On binding to the CRF receptor present on the anterior pituitary gland, CRF releases adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH). ACTH binds to the…
