Stress Management Can Help in Type 2 Diabetes

Patients with type 2 diabetes who incorporate stress management techniques into their routine care can significantly reduce their average blood glucose levels, according to a new study by researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Stress can increase glucose levels in people with diabetes, making them more susceptible to long-term physical complications such as eye, kidney or nerve disorders.

"The stress management techniques, when added to standard care, helped reduce glucose levels," said Richard Surwit, Ph.D., lead author of the study and a medical psychologist at Duke. Stress also can disrupt diabetes control indirectly through its effects on diet and exercise, he said.

"Managing stress can significantly improve a patient's control of their diabetes," said Surwit. "These techniques are simple, quick to learn, and have been shown to work for multiple conditions, including coronary syndromes.