Have you ever noticed higher blood sugar readings when you are stressed? Many people wonder whether cortisol causes high blood sugar, and the answer is yes, it can. Let’s find out more about why cortisol may be a key factor in higher blood sugar readings during periods of stress, illness or poor sleep.
Article Highlights
- Cortisol signals your liver to release glucose during stressful periods
- High cortisol levels can make insulin less effective
- Poor sleep may increase cortisol-related blood sugar spikes
- Managing stress can help reduce glucose variability
What is cortisol and why does your body release it?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and helps your body respond to stress. Although it is often called the body’s stress hormone, it plays key roles in regulating metabolism, blood pressure, inflammation and our sleep-wake cycle.
Cortisol is released throughout the day and helps your body cope with stress and maintain normal functioning. In the short term, cortisol is helpful as it provides energy to maintain normal body functions in stressful situations.
How does cortisol raise blood sugar levels? Are people with diabetes more sensitive?
When your brain perceives stress, it signals the adrenal gland to release cortisol. One reason cortisol causes high blood sugar is that it signals the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream. This process produces a quick source of energy during stressful situations. Cortisol also makes insulin less effective, a process known as insulin resistance. As a result, glucose remains in the bloodstream longer instead of moving into cells for energy.
People without diabetes can compensate by producing more insulin. However, with diabetes, it is harder to manage the response, making cortisol-related blood sugar spikes more noticeable.
Why can stress cause sudden glucose spikes even without eating?
You may notice that when you measure your fasting blood glucose levels, your blood sugar is elevated despite not eating. Stress, and in turn cortisol, can trigger glucose spikes even when you have not eaten.
Examples of common triggers include:
- Work-related stress
- Exams or assignment deadlines
- Financial burdens
- Family responsibilities
- Acute illness
Click here for more details on how various life stressors can impact your diabetes.
How does sleep affect cortisol-related blood sugar spikes?
Sleep and blood sugar control go hand in hand with poor sleep, increasing cortisol levels and making insulin less effective. In the morning, cortisol naturally rises to help wake you up. In some people with diabetes, the normal morning rise can contribute to higher fasting blood sugar levels, a phenomenon known as the dawn phenomenon. Even a few nights of poor sleep can affect your blood sugar control. Therefore, it is important to have good sleep hygiene when living with diabetes.
What are the signs that cortisol may be affecting your glucose levels?
It may be difficult to detect cortisol-related blood sugar spikes. However, keeping a logbook of your blood sugar readings to detect patterns may help determine if cortisol is playing a role. From this exercise, you may notice:
- Higher morning blood sugar readings
- Glucose spikes during times of stress
- Elevated blood sugar levels when you are sick
- Blood sugar variability despite consistent eating patterns
- Higher blood sugar readings after several nights of poor sleep
If you notice patterns in your blood sugar readings, speak with your diabetes care team to determine ways to better control your levels and adopt some of the following stress management strategies.
How can you reduce cortisol-related blood sugar spikes?
Small, consistent changes to your daily routine can help manage stress levels and improve blood sugar control over time.
Strategies to reduce unnecessary blood glucose elevations can include:
- Prioritizing 7-9 hours of sleep each night
- Stress-management techniques (e.g., yoga, meditation, journalling)
- Staying physically active (e.g., regular walks, swimming, exercise classes)
- Monitoring your blood glucose patterns regularly
When should you talk to your healthcare team about ongoing blood sugar spikes?
Occasional blood sugar variability is common. However, persistent or unexplained high readings should be discussed with your diabetes healthcare team. Keeping a logbook of your daily blood sugar readings or reviewing the data from your blood glucose meter or continuous glucose monitor can help track and determine when to speak to a healthcare professional.
Consider reaching out if you experience:
- Frequent unexplained glucose spikes
- Consistently elevated fasting blood sugar levels
- Difficulty achieving your blood sugar targets (LINK: https://www.diabetescarecommunity.ca/living-well-with-diabetes-articles/what-are-the-recommended-blood-sugar-targets-people-diabetes/)
Speaking with your diabetes care team can help to identify potential causes and determine if your diabetes management plan needs adjusting.
Your 3-step action plan to manage stress and blood sugar spikes
- Track your stress, sleep and blood sugar levels for 1 week to identify patterns
- Prioritize 7-9 hours of sleep to support better blood sugar control
- Review recurring blood sugar spikes with your diabetes care team to tailor your diabetes management
Cortisol can contribute to blood sugar spikes when your body is under physical or emotional stress. Understanding why cortisol causes high blood sugar can help you recognize patterns and take steps to improve your diabetes management. Speak with your diabetes care team if you continue to experience unexplained high blood sugar readings to identify causes and develop a personalized plan to get you back on track.
