Easing stress can lower your risk of diabetes

http://www.caregiversamerica.com/company-blog/8-facts-about-diabetes-that-can-save-your-life

AARP Bulletin Oct. 2014
Peter Jaret

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Stress at home or work may add to the risk of developing diabetes. In a 2014 study led by University of Colorado psychologist Mark Whisman, researchers found that men in rocky marriages had a higher prevalence of the disease than men in happier unions. Another study published last year found that chronic stress adds to the harmful effects of a high fat/high sugar diet, and may cause people to carry more abdominal fat and increase their risk of insulin resistance. “Stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine can bind to receptors on cells, including muscle and fat cells, and change the way they respond,” says Kirstin Aschbacher, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, who led the study. “If you’re at risk of type 2 diabetes, it’s advisable to take some steps to manage stress.” Physical activity, which has many benefits, may help, as can meditation, yoga and breathing exercises.