Beat diabetes with these anti-stress strategies

Life is full of stressors: fights with spouses, health problems, money woes, and more. But it's not the challenges themselves that create stress and impact blood sugar: it's how you react. We'll give you some tips to stress less.

Two common types of thinking can easily act against you. One is assuming the worst, like automatically thinking that because your boss is in a bad mood, you're going to be fired. The other is believing that you, other people, the world, and life in general have to live up to certain standards, which leads to disappointment and frustration when they inevitably don't.

Stress-inducing thoughts often revolve around irrational beliefs. Keep a lookout for these types of thoughts and try to nip them in the bud. Here are some of them:

• It's necessary that everyone like me.
• If people disapprove of me, I must be wrong or bad.
• I have to be competent in everything I do.
• My value as a person depends on what I achieve.
• It's terrible when things aren't the way I want.
• People are the victims of their circumstances.
• I'm entitled to a good life and should never experience pain.

• Tranquil thoughts are like water bubbling from a spring that percolates into a flowing stream and nourishes the world around it. On the other hand, stressful thoughts are like an overwhelming flood. Control the water, and you keep havoc under control so that everything remains calm and serene.
• All that talk about tranquil, flowing water makes use of imagery, a powerful technique for focusing thoughts on peaceful mental pictures and triggering the feelings that go with them.
• It's clear that even subtle thoughts and feelings can have an impact on blood sugar. For example, lab mice with diabetes have higher blood sugar when they're conditioned to merely anticipate a minor annoyance, such as the floor under their feet moving.
• Try using a variety of meditative techniques that harness some form of imagery. To do them, find a quiet place where you can sit undisturbed for up to 20 minutes. Breathe deeply while you take your mind to another place.
• Don't worry if you find unwanted thoughts intruding while you're using imagery. When thoughts shoved to the recesses of your mind start moving into your consciousness, it's actually a sign that you're letting go of the stress that was holding them back. Just passively let them move through your mind, then turn back to the imagery.

Meditation and stress management are powerful and useful tools that can help you manage your diabetes and improve your life. It's worth the time and effort to focus on your mental health, as this positive change can impact your life in countless other beneficial ways.