A study from Duke University shows that obesity is not the only risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Stress can play a major role in elevated blood sugar levels.
62 African-American women participated in the study. They were in good health, and had not been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. They were assessed for abdominal fat which is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and diabetes. The women were then measured for stress reactions during a test that measured emotional response.
The body releases epinephrine during stress. This is called the “fight or flight response”. The women were asked to remember stressful times in their lives while the researchers recorded their blood sugar and epinephrine levels.
They found that women with a higher degree of belly fat, and a greater stress reaction, had a higher fasting glucose level, than women who had less belly fat.
Source: about.com
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