Find Health and Happiness in 2021
In the New Year, your diabetes management routine should include taking time to rest, relax and recharge.
If the past year has shown us anything, it’s the importance of being resilient to stress. And while 2020 is finally in the past, it’s important to continue managing your daily stress and making sure you’re prepared for whatever life throws your way—especially if you have diabetes.
Managing diabetes can be stressful. In fact, people with diabetes are 20 percent more likely to experience anxiety at some point in their life than those without diabetes. On top of that, stress can cause your blood sugar to rise and become more difficult to control.
Why stress causes spikes
We all experience stress from time to time. But, when we are under constant stress, it can cause your body to go into “fight or flight” mode and release stress hormones. These hormones raise your blood sugar to give you energy to fight or flee from a stressful situation.
Over time, this type of chronic stress can make diabetes worse and help contribute to health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity. There are steps you can take to keep your stress and diabetes in-check though. By simply putting time aside to enjoy yourself, you can help to stay happy, healthy and feeling your best for years to come.
Start the year stress-free
Don’t let yourself get caught up in the stress of everyday life this year. Make it a resolution to enjoy a low-stress lifestyle in 2021 with these simple tips:
- Get a good night’s rest – Getting enough sleep can help you manage stress and feel your best. But, even just one night of too little sleep can affect your mood and make your body use insulin less efficiently. To help get your best rest, create a comfortable space, stick to a sleep schedule and avoid eating a couple of hours before bed.
- Find “me time” – Taking a few minutes to yourself each morning can help you feel refreshed. You can stretch, meditate, sit quietly with a cup of tea or do anything that helps you feel relaxed and ready to take on the day.
- Live in the moment – If you like to cook, be fully present during your meal prep. If you’re a painter, give your full attention to every stroke of the brush. No matter your favorite hobbies, becoming immersed in what you’re doing can help you manage stress and get more enjoyment from life.
- Take a tech break – Too much time looking at screens can harm your physical, mental and emotional health. To cut back on screen time, try setting app limits, turning off notifications, only checking your messages once every hour or putting your phone in a drawer away from your bed at night.
- Practice gratitude – When you focus on the good in your life, it can help you feel happier and be healthier. By simply reflecting on what you’re grateful for, you can help to reduce stress, stay positive, sleep better, boost your immune system and experience other health benefits.
Enjoy the convenience of Pip
With our all-in-one lancets, you can leave your lancing device behind and enjoy quick, easy and pain-free finger pokes. Even better, when you order a subscription with us, you’ll get everything you need to check your blood sugar delivered right to your door, all throughout the year. It’s a simple and stress-free way to help you stay on top of your blood sugar levels in 2021 and beyond.
Sign-up for a lancet subscription or view additional lancet purchasing options.
SOURCES:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Diabetes and Mental Health”
University of California, San Francisco: “Blood Sugar & Stress”
John Hopkins Medicine: “Diabetes and Stress”
Mayo Clinic: “Stress management”
Mayo Clinic: “To improve your health, practice gratitude”
Berkeley Greater Good Science Center: “Five Reasons to Take a Break from Screens”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “10 Surprising Things That Can Spike Your Blood Sugar”
