Type 2 Diabetes - Cutting Out Stress To Help Manage Your Blood Sugar Level

There is no question that stress can be a big health problem for anyone. Whether you suffer from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes or not, the effects of long-term stress on your body are pretty severe. Stress can elevate your heart rate, cause hormone shifts and even affect your blood sugar levels.

As stated by the American Diabetes Association, it's simple to discover whether or not mental stress affects your blood sugar control. When checking your blood sugar level (BSL), write down a score rating your stress level on a scale of 1 to 10. Beside this record your blood sugar reading. After a week or two, a pattern will be seen. If you find a high stress score alongside of a high BSL, and a low stress beside your low BSL, stress may be affecting your blood sugar control

Here are some helpful ideas on how to reduce stress in your life so that you can keep your blood sugar level in a safe, healthy range.

First of all, don't let problems fester. Instead, resolve them and move on with your life. If someone has made you feel angry, don't be afraid to confront them and have a conversation about what they did to upset you. Don't get mad and angry, instead just talk about it with the person and resolve it. Level with the person you are communicating with. Calmly and clearly express what you are feeling. It is important express how you feel in a non-threatening manner. Be kind and honest and you will be OK. If the other person won't take any responsibility, at least you know you tried to resolve the issue and you can then decide whether or not you want to stay in contact with that person.

Perfectionism is a big problem a lot of people have. It is best to stop expecting perfection out of yourself and other people. No one is ever going to be perfect, so it's important you learn to allow people (and yourself), to have flaws. You have the right to be you, and others have the right to be themselves even if we don't like some aspects of them. The more you try to change other people and how they think, the more stressed out you will become. You cannot control anyone but yourself.

Practice saying "no". So many people feel guilty when they have to say "no" to another person's request. You know yourself better than anyone else, so it's always wise to make decisions that protect your health and your mental well-being. If you feel like you need to say no to someone, you don't really need to give them an explanation. You should always do what is best for yourself; you can't add more available time to your day. Saying no doesn't mean you are selfish.

Exercise stress away. Finally, it's very important for Type 2 diabetics to get at least 20 minutes of exercise every day. This can be something as simple as taking a walk in the evening after dinner or getting up early to take a walk on the treadmill. Getting yourself moving will allow you to burn off excess blood sugar and also get rid of some of the stress hormones that can hang about in our bodies.

Sleep problems cause stress so plenty of sleep is another important part of making sure you get the stress out of your life as well. Aim for at least seven hours of good sleep per night.