SOADI Frontline Training - CAMH - Nicotine Dependence Clinic

SOADI FRONTLINE TRAINING 29
Stress
Objectives
By the end of this training session, participants will:
• Acknowledge how stress can affect diabetes and our bodies.
• Recognize different types of activities to relieve stress.
Definition
Stress results from how we react to a situation emotionally,
physically, mentally, and/or spiritually. Everyone will react
differently. How the situation will affect us is dependent on our
attitude (positive or negative).
For example, when responding to a high blood-glucose reading, one
person may get upset. This can cause blood-glucose levels to
increase and puts the individual out of balance, both emotionally
and mentally. Another person may react differently and take the
steps necessary to lower blood-glucose levels by going for a walk.
This positive reaction decreases the individual’s stress and lowers
blood-glucose levels while also rebalancing him- or herself.
Factors of Stress
Stress is a normal part of life, and does not cause diabetes;
however, it can worsen the symptoms. Changes in our lives can be a
major source of stress. Our body reacts to these changes with
physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental responses. Being out of
balance in one of these areas can cause serious problems for
people with diabetes.
It’s stressful:
• To learn you have diabetes.
• Being told you have complications of diabetes.
• To monitor your health every day.
• Not being able to afford the medical supplies for proper
diabetes care.
• To inject insulin every day.
• To lose someone.