A recent scientific study revealed that a diabetic patient's emotional attitude towards their illness may affect their health to a greater degree than the disease itself.
The researchers reached this conclusion after studying data from 438 adults with diabetes, comparing their health status with their psychological state. They found that anxiety, fear of the disease, and the tendency to exaggerate the potential consequences of symptoms were the most contributing factors to the development of psychological distress in diabetic patients, which negatively impacts health. However, the perception of the severity of the disease itself was not related to the level of psychological stress.
The analysis also allowed for the classification of patients into three groups: those with low, medium, and high psychological stress. It was noted that the highest risk of severe psychological distress was among people with a long course of diabetes and the emergence of complications of this disease.
Researchers believe that in addition to monitoring blood sugar levels, it is important for diabetics to pay attention to their mental state, and they believe that addressing anxiety and negative thoughts related to the disease can improve quality of life and make it easier to manage the disease on a daily basis.
Health experts indicate that stress can significantly contribute to the deterioration of the health condition of diabetic patients. When stressed, the body releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline to provide immediate energy. These hormones prevent insulin from working effectively, which raises blood sugar levels. Stress also increases insulin resistance in the body, and with it, blood sugar levels also rise. In addition, stress and anxiety have negative effects on the health of the heart, arteries, and nervous system.
