Can anxiety raise your blood sugar?
Yes, anxiety can definitely raise your blood sugar levels. When you feel anxious or stressed, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones trigger your liver to release stored glucose into your bloodstream to give you extra energy for dealing with the Show Full Answer
Can anxiety raise your blood sugar?
Yes, anxiety can definitely raise your blood sugar levels. When you feel anxious or stressed, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones trigger your liver to release stored glucose into your bloodstream to give you extra energy for dealing with the stressful situation.
This is part of your body's "fight-or-flight" response. While this can be helpful in short bursts, it can make managing your diabetes more challenging.
How anxiety affects your blood sugar:
* Your liver releases stored glucose
* Insulin becomes less effective at doing its job
* Sugar stays in your blood longer, causing spikes
* Your body becomes less sensitive to insulin over time
A DiabetesTeam member shared: "Frustration, pain, fear, and stress cause an increase in the levels of those hormones, which increases blood sugar."
Managing anxiety-related blood sugar spikes:
If you notice your blood sugar rising when you're anxious, try these strategies:
* Practice deep breathing exercises
* Spend time in nature
* Listen to calming music
* Monitor your blood sugar more closely during stressful times
Another member found success by saying: "I breathed deeply and talked myself down and managed to avoid a spike."
If you're experiencing frequent blood sugar spikes related to anxiety, talk with your doctor about adjusting your diabetes management plan.
December 20, 2025
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