Anyone who has ever had the displeasure of experiencing a panic
attack will tell you it is no fun. The fact there are so many triggers
that can set off a panic attack isn't very reassuring either. But did
you know having diabetes creates its own panic attacks? Stress can
actually be unhealthy and dangerous if you have Type 1 or Type 2
diabetes.
One of the simplest ways to set off a panic attack is by
not maintaining your desired and ideal blood sugar levels. When levels
are allowed to dip too low, too quickly, your body's natural reaction is
to panic. It desperately needs something that simply isn't available.
Chemicals in the brain immediately begin to release stress hormones and
adrenaline production goes into overdrive. Your body then searches
desperately for a solution that doesn't exist unless you react
reasonably fast.
Blood sugar levels are directly connected to many areas of your body... including your heart. That's why your:
- heart rate begins to increase,
- breathing becomes somewhat labored,
- the body begins to perspire,
- hands suffer from trembling, and
- there is a general feeling of weakness.
These are all classic symptoms of a panic attack.
When
a panic attack hits, your best defense is to be prepared. Having a
snack on hand is essential.
Anything from candy, to snack foods to
glucose tablets will work. Your goal is to not only bring your blood
sugar back in line, but to dissipate the panic attack. After all, stress
and diabetes do not mix.
When your body experiences a panic
attack, the body's stress level dramatically rises. Since stress is not
ideal for diabetes and interferes with your blood sugar control, now you
have to fight diabetic complications as well as increased stress
levels. Overcoming low blood sugar is hard enough under normal
circumstances. But throw in a panic attack and it is very difficult to
concentrate on the task at hand.
The best way to ward off a panic attack, besides keeping your blood sugar level within ideal ranges, is to:
- exercise regularly,
- drink plenty of water, and
- gets lots of quality sleep.
Having a deficit in
any of these areas can help to initiate a panic attack. And a deficit
can also prolong and complicate the recovery from one also.
Controlling stress requires a change in how you think and behave.
The change can be immediate. Some people are ruled by their feelings.
They tend to act on their emotions without thinking of the outcome.
Negative feelings include:
- frustration,
- anger,
- sadness,
- fear, and
- anxiety
and can dominate their actions. The
results can be stressful. Managing these feelings is essential for
keeping stress at a minimum and controlling your Type 2 diabetes.
Controlling
stress doesn't mean you need to control how you feel, it means not
giving into the feeling. It means finding a way to rise above the
feeling.
Another way to combat panic attacks is to learn how to
relax. This means removing as much stress from your life as possible.
Meditation is a good way to accomplish this. So is yoga, martial arts,
Pilates, Tai Chi or any other form of low-impact exercise that promotes
stretching and burning calories.
To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link...
Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about
Type 2 Diabetes Solutions ... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
Beverleigh
Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for
reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are
complete and active. Copyright (c) 2011 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide