Being under constant stress puts men at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Swedish researchers examined almost 7,000 men over a 35-year period and discovered that those men who reported constant stress were exposed to a more significant risk of developing the chronic condition than men who said they did not feel any stress.
Diabetes is a metabolic condition that causes an individual’s blood sugar levels to become dangerously high. Type 2 diabetes is a late onset condition usually affecting people over 40 where the body isn’t producing enough insulin to function correctly or the cells don’t react to insulin.
The Swedish research was part of a long-term population study. The men taking part had no history of diabetes, heart disease or stroke when the study began but 15% of them reported suffering from permanent stress.
Over the 35 years of the study, almost 900 developed type 2 diabetes. Those noted as permanently stressed at the start of the project had a 45% increased risk of developing diabetes compared to men who reported little or no stress over the course of the study. The researchers took into account age, body mass index, blood pressure and activity levels and the results remained the same.
The team, from the University of Gothenburg, reported their findings in the journal Diabetic Medicine, concluding that stress should be recognised as a preventable cause of diabetes and suggested that preventative measures should be explored to reduce the risks to men suffering from constant stress.
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