Managing Diabetes
Stress and Glucose: What People with Type 2 Diabetes Need to Know and How Dexcom G7 Can Help
Published: Feb. 5, 2026
6 min read
The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.
The connection between stress and blood sugar is a daily reality for millions living with Type 2 diabetes. When stress strikes, whether it's from work deadlines, family responsibilities, or managing diabetes itself, your glucose levels can spike unexpectedly, making glucose management more challenging.
For people living with Type 2 diabetes, stress and blood sugar levels are closely connected, and that link matters. Chronic stress doesn’t just cause short-term spikes; over time, it can make glucose harder to manage, increase insulin resistance, and raise the risk of complications.
The good news? You have the power to make a difference. By understanding this relationship and using the right tools—like continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)—you can stay informed, spot patterns, and take proactive steps toward better health.
Understanding Different Types of Stress
Stress comes in different forms, and each affects your body in unique ways:
- Eustress is considered a "positive stress." It's short-term and motivating, helping you rise to challenges like preparing for a big presentation or starting a new project. While generally beneficial, even positive stress can impact glucose levels.
- Acute stress is a sudden, short-lived response to an immediate threat or pressure, such as narrowly avoiding an accident or meeting a tight deadline. While acute stress usually resolves quickly, frequent episodes can still strain your body and cause blood sugar spikes.
- Chronic stress is the most harmful type because it persists over weeks or months, keeping stress hormones like cortisol elevated. This ongoing activation disrupts metabolism, promotes insulin resistance, and creates a cycle that's difficult to break.
How Stress Affects Blood Sugar
When stress hits, your body launches into "fight-or-flight" mode, releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These stress hormones:
- Trigger glucose release from the liver
- Reduce insulin sensitivity throughout the body
Stress Impact on Type 2 Diabetes
For people with T2D, this stress response creates a perfect storm:
- Immediate effects: Higher blood sugar during stress episodes, sometimes reaching levels that persist long after the stressor has passed
- Long-term consequences: Chronic stress contributes to sustained hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar levels) and increased insulin resistance
- Behavioral complications: Stress may lead to choices like emotional eating, skipping workouts, poor sleep, and not taking your medicines as prescribed, all of which can make it harder to keep your blood sugar levels in range
Watch for elevated glucose levels that coincide with stressful periods, as this pattern can help you identify when stress management strategies are most needed.
Signs Stress May Be Affecting Your Blood Sugar
During times of stress, watch for the following signs to start connecting the dots between your stress and your glucose levels.
Glucose Patterns:
- Unexplained glucose spikes despite consistent food choices and use of medication
- Increased variability in glucose readings throughout the day
- Glucose levels that remain elevated longer than usual after meals
Here's how to spot glucose spikes on a CGM like Dexcom G7
Emotional and Physical Symptoms:
- Feeling anxious, fatigued, or irritable without clear cause
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
- Physical tension, headaches, or rapid heartbeat
These signs can also have other causes but seeing them show up during stressful periods may help you understand how stress is impacting your diabetes.
The Challenge of Diabetes Distress
Beyond everyday stressors, people living with diabetes face a unique form of stress called "diabetes distress." This encompasses the emotional burden of consistent glucose monitoring, medication management, dietary restrictions, and fear of complications. A 2021 U.S. survey found that among 29.7 million adults with diagnosed diabetes, about 24% reported moderate diabetes distress and about 7% had severe distress—meaning nearly one in three reported moderate to severe distress.1 Studies show that diabetes distress impacts blood sugar levels, creating a cycle where diabetes management itself becomes a source of stress. Signs of diabetes distress include:
- Increased feelings of burnout around diabetes management
- Avoiding looking at glucose levels or feeling overwhelmed by diabetes tasks
- Catastrophic thinking about blood sugar readings or diabetes complications
Know When to Seek Help:
If you're experiencing diabetes distress symptoms or chronic stress is significantly affecting your health, contact your care team for professional help managing these stressors.
Practical Strategies to Manage Stress
There are several proven, practical strategies that can help you manage stress. Small changes can have a big impact and most people notice positive changes in glucose levels when implementing these evidence-based stress management techniques:
Healthy Habits
Physical Activity
Even modest movement can significantly reduce stress hormones and improve insulin sensitivity. Consistency matters more than intensity. Consider:
- Walking for 10-15 minutes during stressful moments
- Gentle yoga or stretching routines
- Any exercise you enjoy
Mindfulness and Breathing
- Practice deep breathing exercises during blood sugar spikes
- Try meditation apps or guided relaxation
- Focus on present-moment awareness rather than worrying about future glucose readings
Sleep and Hydration
- Prioritize 7-9 hours of quality sleep
- Stay adequately hydrated throughout the day
- Create consistent bedtime routines that promote relaxation
Emotional Support Systems
Professional Support
- Consider counseling or therapy, especially diabetes-focused support
- Join diabetes support groups in your community or online
Expert Guidance
Access tips from diabetes mental health expert Dr. Mark Heyman: Diabetes and Mental Health: Ways to Cope with Burnout and Anxiety
Access tips from diabetes mental health expert Dr. Mark Heyman: Diabetes and Mental Health: Ways to Cope with Burnout and Anxiety
Continuous glucose monitoring: see the impact of stress more clearly
Studies show that using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) can improve confidence, reduce anxiety, and support healthier habits for people with Type 2 diabetes.2 Dexcom G7 and Dexcom G7 15 Day provide real-time CGM, so you can see how stress affects your glucose without painful fingersticks.* Simply glance at your glucose levels on your compatible smartphone, smart watch, or Dexcom receiver to know where your glucose is, where it’s been, and where you’re headed. Plus, you can easily log stressful events in the G7 app† to analyze their impact later.
CGM immediate feedback and trend data help you:
- Recognize stress-glucose patterns as they develop
- Make informed decisions to help reduce stress‑related sugar spikes and build long‑term stress management habits
- Understand your personal stress response timeline
- See the long-term benefits (lower A1C, increased time in range) of implementing practical strategies
- Widen your support network with the Share feature‡, which allows you to share your glucose levels with up to 10 friends and loved ones. By downloading the Dexcom Follow app‡, Followers can view your glucose data directly from their smart device, whether they live down the street or in another country. Having this circle of support can help reduce feelings of isolation or anxiety.
- Customizable high and low glucose alerts and “Urgent Low Soon” notifications help you stay in your target range and avoid swings during stressful periods.
- If you’re in a situation where you particularly want to avoid receiving an alert from your Dexcom G7, such as interviewing for a job or attending a performance, you can enable Quiet Modes.
- Dexcom G7 15 Day provides the added advantage of a longer wear time, which means fewer sensor changes. This can help reduce your overall diabetes management burden when you're already dealing with stressful situations.
Your Next Steps
Stress is inevitable, but its impact on your glucose levels doesn't have to be unmanageable. Using tools like the Dexcom G7 and Dexcom G7 15 Day alongside healthy habits can help you lower stress and manage your type 2 diabetes more effectively.
Remember that managing stress-related glucose changes is a skill that develops over time. Start with small changes, use your CGM data to help understand your patterns, and work with your healthcare team to improve your plan.
Ready to take charge of stress and glucose management?
Talk to your healthcare provider about Dexcom G7 and Dexcom G7 15 Day and how they can support better glucose management and help reduce the daily stress of diabetes management.
*Fingersticks required for diabetes treatment decisions if symptoms or expectations do not match readings. † Compatible smart devices sold separately. To view a list of compatible devices, visit https://www.dexcom.com/compatibility ‡ Separate Dexcom Follow app and internet connection required. Internet connectivity required for data sharing. Users should always confirm readings on the Dexcom G7 app or receiver before making treatment decisions. 1 Alexander DS, et al. Prev Chronic Dis 2025;22:240287 2 Natale P, et al. J Diabetes. 2023 Dec;15(12):1048-1069.