As your journey with diabetes progresses, you will discover that diet and exercise are not the only things that can impact your blood sugar levels. Certain medications can raise your blood glucose levels. So can not getting enough sleep and fighting off an illness. But stress is something that can have a massive impact on your blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, it’s all bad. Here’s what you need to know about stress and its harmful effects on blood glucose.

When you experience mental or physical stress, it causes very important survival responses from your body. These are meant to aid in a “fight or flight” event by giving you the surge of strength you need to flee the danger. However, these natural responses do not distinguish between physical stress, emotional stress, or even long-term and consistent stress. The response is to increase the production of certain hormones that dump sugar into your blood and increase your heart rate and blood pressure.

In certain situations, this can be beneficial. It allows you to escape potentially dangerous situations. It allows you to have the energy you need to study for an important exam or finish a vital project at work. However, long-term stress and the continuous presence of higher sugar levels, higher blood pressure, and faster heart rates can place you at elevated risks for other dangerous health complications.