by Eric Devine

Created on: November 19, 2008   Last Updated: November 27, 2008

Handling Pervasive Stress

There exists an unfortunate dynamic for most Americans today. The cost of living is rising exponentially, while the quality of that living is correspondingly declining. The cost of gas, food and mortgages fells like some national joke, where no one has yet revealed the punch line. We stagger through our days, pinching pennies or picking up second and third jobs in order to make ends meet. Then the end inches more out of reach. There is little doubt that our collective stress level is off the charts. What, then, does this situation pose for those with diabetes, where stress is as prevalent and as problematic as sugar, and curtailing our healthcare regimen to meet the physical and psychological demands of it, is as demanding as solving our national crisis?

Stress increases the level of cortisol in our bodies, which, in turn can lead to weight gain through blood sugar irregularity, decreased cognitive ability, and lowered immunity. Further, stress alters our eating habits, causing those high calorie foods to become more appealing and more comforting. Stress also affects our sleep, giving rise to racing thoughts, while we lie awake, enumerating the ways we can solve our financial situation. However, we omit the cost taxed to our bodies.

This decreased body function, lack of sleep, poor diet and added weight, understandably make us increasingly tired. We then depend on caffeine, thus increasing our already stress-elevated blood pressure. At this juncture many of us also cut exercise because the gym membership is one unessential expense, or the time to complete exercise no longer exists. Here we are, then, overworked, over fed, under paid and under the gun. Wait, aren't we already more stressed then everyone else in this exact position? That's right, chronic illness equates to a chronic stress, and this is precisely why we misjudge how much more we can take.

I am a victim of the current economy. I hold one full-time and two part-time jobs. However, I'm managing, but am aware that I will crumble if I don't tend to myself. I recognize that I'm under more stress than the average, equally suffering American. Therefore, it is doubly not all right for me to eat improperly or to lose out on sleep or to cut out exercise, because there elements keep my diabetes in check, by helping keep my stress related to the disease in check. Having sugar levels running the charts like the current stock market is simply not an option. In no way would I be able to efficiently function at juggling the myriad financial scenarios that present themselves daily, if my mind and body were not clear. Proper diet, sleep and exercise are the only elements that allow me to achieve this.

Therefore, in spite of the financial and time crunch we are all experiencing, we with diabetes must shoulder the burden, unfortunately atop our already heavy load. However, we cannot allow our health to fall to the wayside simply because it is an easy way to lighten our toil. No, even though it is heavy to hold, it is the only way for us to maintain our strength for the duration. However long that may be.

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