Being stressed is the order of the day in today’s world. It is so common to hear the words “I am feeling stressed” being uttered by someone in your immediate environment.

While for the most part, “I am stressed” may just indicate the mental exhaustion and frustration of the moment, for many, it entails a period of anxiety. Unfortunately, research is showing that mere stress can actually lead to other unpleasant consequences, for example, diabetes.

In the blog post “Are “Healthy Obese” Individuals Free From Diabetes?” the immune response protein (cytokine) IL6 was discussed. Elevated levels of IL6 were found to increase insulin resistance and hence the risk of diabetes was increased.

Similar evidence has been found in a study conducted by Rice University. The authors, Dr. Kyle W. Murdock along with his mentor Dr. Christopher Fagundes studied 837 middle-aged individuals for their cognitive abilities 2 years apart. The individuals had to fill out a questionnaire on their levels of anxiety. Their blood was tested for glycated hemoglobin and IL6 levels.

The researchers observed that low anxiety did not activate the immune response and did not increase inflammation. The inflammation response protein IL6 was not activated.

“In contrast, high anxiety, such as reduced attention, distracting objects or thoughts, activated the immune response protein IL6, and such individuals were more likely to develop diabetes.” 

The authors also noted that stress activates inflammation, which in turn leads to an increased risk of diabetes. However, the reverse is not true. Inflammation does not activate stress.

Reduced attention or distraction leading to high anxiety is the only cognitive function that activates inflammation and leads to increased risk of diabetes. No other cognitive function has the capability of increasing the risk of diabetes.

If you think about it, you can hardly think straight when you are stressed. To deal with the stress on a short-term basis, people take to eating comfort foods or end up smoking. All of these habits just increase your blood sugar leading you on the downhill slope of diabetes.

The authors suggest mindfulness therapy as an appropriate form of treatment of high stress, which could prevent the risk of diabetes. Cognitive behavioral therapy and medications to treat inflammation are other ways to prevent inflammation.

The basic lesson that one gets from this study is to find ways to reduce stress to avoid the chance of developing diabetes. By learning to deal with your stress, you will do yourself a big favor and avoid the complications of diabetes.

Cognition: The process of learning, reasoning, understanding, and memorizing. (Ref: Merriam-Webster)