See How Emotions Affect Your Glucose with SIBIONICS GS1
Do you ever catch yourself wondering why your glucose rises or falls when you were upset or excited? Worries, anger, or excitement can change your glucose. Your body gets you ready to handle problems, and these changes happen. Learning how feelings affect your glucose will help you learn to respond in a way that makes your levels more stable.
Why Emotions Affect Glucose
Glucose fuels your muscles and brain. To get you ready to respond, your body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol when you experience strong emotions. Adrenaline gives you a short-term energy boost by telling your liver to release stored glucose into your system. Cortisol maintains the extra energy for a little while longer. Even if you haven't eaten in a while, these hormones can push your glucose levels up. Learning how to do so can keep you from being surprised by spikes or drops.
Emotions That Can Change Glucose Levels
1. Anxiety
Anxious refers to worrying about what is going to happen in the future. It can be from a test, big presentation, or concerns about yourself. A bit of anxiety will motivate you to study and focus. However, if anxiety persists, it will cause your glucose to stay elevated for hours. You can notice your levels elevate before and during stressful times.
2. Anger
Anger seems to crop up in conflict or competition. When you are angry, your fight-or-flight response is activated. The same hormones that help you run from threat also dump glucose into your blood. That extra energy can keep your glucose higher than it should be if you are angry.
3. Excitement
Excitement can be caused by good news, an upcoming event, or a fun activity. Even pleasant emotions trigger the fight-or-flight response in a muted manner. Your body still shunts glucose to get you ready for action. You may get a sudden surge of your levels before a party, game, or any high-stress activity.
How to Observe Your Glucose Reactions
Using a continuous glucose monitor like SIBIONICS GS1 also makes it simpler to recognize the effect of emotions on your reading. The GS1 has a small sensor that you stick at the back of your upper arm. It's measuring glucose in the fluid beneath your skin minute by minute for up to 14 days. Scan the sensor through a reader or mobile phone app to see:
- Your current reading
- A trend arrow showing whether levels are rising, falling, or staying the same
- Up to eight hours of history in a simple chart
All you have to do with GS1 is look briefly—no finger sticks to perform each time. The reader or app even stores information for about three months. That will enable you to observe how your levels behaved on the days when you experienced intense emotions.
Tips for Linking Glucose and Feelings
• Track Emotional Moments
Whenever you feel an intense emotion, note the time and check your sensor. Compare your latest reading to see if glucose increased or decreased. With experience, you can observe patterns linking feelings with level changes.
• Know Your Triggers
Think about what feelings affect your glucose the most. Does your level surge before an exam, when you're fighting, or when you're having an exciting time? Now that you know what your triggers are, you can plan how to deal with your response.
• Use Alerts
The GS1 app enables you to set high or low glucose alarms. You will be reminded when an emotion sends you over or under your goals. That head start gives you time to take it easy, exercise, or grab a small snack to balance your level.
Methods of Managing Emotional Glucose Rises
1. Mindful Breathing
Breathe deeply when under stress or excitement. Breathe in slowly through your nose and count to three, and then exhale. This simple process can lower cortisol and let your glucose stabilize.
2. Short Walks
Exercise uses glucose as fuel. Going for a five- or ten-minute walk after doing something stressful can lower your levels.
3. Pause and Reflect
Step away from an awkward moment for a split second and it can stop your fight-or-flight response. Use that moment to calm your brain prior to checking your glucose.
4. Talk It Out
Explaining your emotions to a loved one or friend will cause anxiety or anger to dissipate. Talking will eliminate emotions without making your glucose rise.
