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how stress affects blood sugar levels

Two types of stress can change blood sugar levels:

Physical stress
Mental or emotional stress

Each type of stress affects blood sugar levels differently. Physical stress generally causes blood sugar levels to increase. Physical stress includes:

Illness
Surgery
Injury

Mental or emotional stress has mixed effects, depending on the type of diabetes you have:

Type 1 diabetes: Mental stress can increase or decrease blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes: Mental stress generally increases blood sugar levels.

Stress also can affect your blood sugar levels indirectly by causing you to forget about your regular diabetes care routine. When you're stressed out, you might:

Exercise more or less
Eat more or less
Eat less healthy foods
Not test your blood sugar level as often
Forget or delay a dose of medication and/or insulin

mental stress can affect your blood sugar levels

Use your diabetes logbook to discover if mental stress affects your blood sugar levels, especially if you have type 2 diabetes. Some people with type 2 diabetes are very sensitive to stress. It causes the body to produce especially high levels of stress hormones, which drive blood sugar levels up.

follow these steps to find out if your blood sugar levels are affected by mental stress:

Rate your stress level on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 indicates the lowest stress level and 10 the highest; record your stress level in your logbook.
Test your glucose using your home monitor and enter the result.
After a week or two, study your results to see if there is a pattern or relationship between your stress level and your blood sugar levels.

3 ways to reduce mental stress

Teach yourself to relax when under stress using deep-breathing exercises or techniques you learn in a stress-management class.
Evaluate your schedule and determine if you can make changes to relieve stress.
Exercise regularly

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The FreeStyle Libre 2 app is only compatible with certain mobile devices and operating systems. Please check our website for more information about device compatibility before using the app. Use of the FreeStyle Libre 2 app requires registration with LibreView.
* Designed to help minimize blood sugar spikes in people with diabetes compared to high-glycemic carbohydrates.
† Vitamins C and E.
‡ Offers may vary. Valuation based on maximum collective savings of offers throughout duration of program.
§ Data from this study was collected with the outside US version of the FreeStyle Libre 14 day system. FreeStyle Libre 2 system has the same features as FreeStyle Libre 14 day system with optional real-time glucose alarms. Therefore, the study data is applicable to both products.
¶ For FreeStyle Libre 2 system: Fingersticks are required if your glucose alarms and readings do not match symptoms or when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol during the first 12 hours.
# Eligible patients will receive one (1) FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor for users with a compatible mobile phone operating system at $0 copay. The expiration date of the voucher is 60 days from the issue date. This program is available for patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes; It is not available for patients with gestational diabetes. Only patients ages 18 and older are eligible to sign up and receive an offer for the FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor and patients ages 4-17 are eligible to receive an offer for the FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor through their parent or guardian. This offer is void where prohibited by law. Abbott may modify or rescind this offer at any time without notice. The discounts are not available to beneficiaries of Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal or state healthcare programs or residents of Massachusetts, Puerto Rico and other US territories. The free FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor is provided as a sample and is limited to one NDC per eligible person. The FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor cannot be re-sold, traded nor submitted to any third-party payer for reimbursement and is not provided as any inducement for future purchases. The free sample card is not health insurance.
Medicare coverage is available for the FreeStyle Libre 2 system if the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader is used to review glucose data on some days every month. Medicare and other third party payor criteria apply.
Abbott provides this information as a courtesy, it is subject to change and interpretation. The customer is ultimately responsible for determining the appropriate codes, coverage, and payment policies for individual patients. Abbott does not guarantee third party coverage or payment for our products or reimburse customers for claims that are denied by third party payors.
Glucerna is the #1 brand recommended by doctors for people with diabetes.
Use Glucerna under medical supervision as part of your diabetes management plan.
References: 1. Haak T, et al. Diabetes Ther. 2017;8(1):55-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-016-0223-6 2. Campbell FM, et al. Pediatr Diabetes. 2018;19(7):1294-1301. https://doi.org/10.1111/pedi.12735 3. Al Hayek AA, et al. Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes. 2020;13:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1179551420910122 4. FreeStyle Libre 2 User’s Manual.

Important Safety Information
FreeStyle Libre 2 system: Failure to use FreeStyle Libre 2 system as instructed in labeling may result in missing a severe low or high glucose event and/or making a treatment decision, resulting in injury. If glucose alarms and readings do not match symptoms or expectations, use a fingerstick value from a blood glucose meter for treatment decisions. Seek medical attention when appropriate or contact Abbott at 855-632-8658 or FreeStyleLibre.us for safety info.
ADC-39854 v2.0 06/22 *Designed to help minimize blood sugar spikes in people with diabetes compared to high-glycemic carbohydrates.
† In the diabetes nutritional products category. ‡ NHANES data on file. 2017. Nutrition information sourced from the USDA National Nutrient Database. https://ndb.nal.usda.gov † Vitamins C and E. ‡ Offers may vary. Valuation based on maximum collective savings of offers throughout duration of program. Glucerna is the #1 brand recommended by doctors for people with diabetes.
Use Glucerna under medical supervision as part of your diabetes management plan.

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