Every person experiences stress in their lives. The results of several studies have demonstrated the negative effect that acute stress has on blood glucose in people who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

It is important to get stress under control to help you manage your diabetes. Try these five ways to combat your stress to help keep your blood glucose under control.

Talk to trusted loved ones

Just talking about your feelings to people who are closest to you can help to reduce your stress. Choose family members and friends that you feel will understand your feelings, not those who will have negative comments about your diabetes.

Ask for help

Ask for help when you need it. Do not feel embarrassed about needing help. Ask a friend to help you keep up with your exercise routine. Ask a family member to help you remember to test your blood sugar or to take your medication.

Take a break

Clean the house or do the laundry tomorrow. Take a break and recharge. Go for a walk, spend time with friends, watch a movie.

Talk to your healthcare team

Discuss your feelings with your healthcare team. They can help you to manage your feelings, help you stay on track with healthy meals, and can make referrals if you need to talk to a mental health specialist.

Take care of yourself

Staying positive can help you manage your stress. Do things that you enjoy. Surround yourself with positive people. Learn to laugh and do it often.