Does Emotional Diabetes Really Exist?

“Do I have emotional diabetes?” You may be surprised at the number of patients with type 2 diabetes who ask their doctors if their stress, anxiety and negative emotions may be behind diabetes. Is this at all possible? Let’s find out!

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot effectively process insulin, a basic and essential hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin helps convert the food you eat into energy. Insulin resistance (or limited insulin production) causes blood sugar to rise slowly, causing many complications.

Stress and other emotional factors can affect many metabolic processes. For example, strong emotions increase cortisol levels, which causes the body to release more glucose.

Yes, there is a complex connection between emotions and diabetes. If stress automatically gave people diabetes, 90% (or more) of the population would be diabetics. It is clear that the development of this disease is not entirely dependent on the emotional factor. That said, stress and anxiety can affect your lifestyle, which can lead to health problems such as diabetes.

Emotional diabetes does not exist

Diabetes is difficult to treat. It is a major public health problem, and more and more people are being diagnosed with it. A study by Dr. Juliana Maina Wanjiru at the University of Manchester shows that it is more important than ever to inform people about the causes of type 2 diabetes.

Its growth rate and its impact on life expectancy make it impossible to ignore. Type 2 diabetes goes undetected for many years before the patient begins to experience symptoms, sometimes not until they are between 55 and 60 years old. Unfortunately, this chronic disease is also common in children. Here are some of the main reasons:

What causes type 2 diabetes?

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, people develop type 2 diabetes because their bodies either do not produce enough insulin or they cannot process it efficiently. A number of factors can cause insulin problems:

• An unhealthy diet. Many people lack variety in their diet and eat too much sugar and processed foods. Eating habits are a key component in developing diabetes.
• An increase in BMI (body mass index) and overweight.
• Hypertension.
• To lead a sedentary lifestyle.
• Genetics can also play a role.

Types of diabetes

As we mentioned above, emotional diabetes does not exist. The only categories of diabetes are type 1 and type 2.

• There is a link between chronic stress and high blood sugar.
• Your brain interprets high levels of adrenaline and cortisol as a sign that you need more energy. As a result, it tells your body to release more glucose into your bloodstream.

• However, it does not make you a diabetic. When these levels fall, people who do not suffer from this condition quickly return to their normal blood sugar levels and normal metabolism.
• However, if the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or if you suffer from insulin resistance, it will not be able to process this blood sugar.

What science says about diabetes and emotions

Now it should be clear that no one gets diabetes from stress alone. That said, the research we have on the subject has provided interesting data that is worth discussing.

The University of Tel Aviv conducted a study in 2006 on the link between burnout and diabetes. It gave interesting results. A large population study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) also reached similar conclusions. Although we can not talk about emotional diabetes per se, when you combine the emotional component with other factors, it can play an important role in the development of diabetes.

Depression and chronic burnout can change your lifestyle and be a clinical predictor of diabetes, but emotional diabetes does not exist

Imagine someone who has experienced burnout at work for years. Over time, they develop depression, and the whole lifestyle changes. They change the way they eat, they become more sedentary and develop insomnia. All of these changes are risk factors for diabetes.

In conclusion, there is no direct link between negative emotions and diabetes. Emotional diabetes simply does not exist. However, factors such as depression often change certain behaviors and eating patterns, which can lead to diabetes. Mental and physical health are intertwined, so take care of yourself!