The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.
Picture this: You step onto a stage, lights shining bright. The audience quiets down. It’s a big moment, and you’re about to give a critical speech. Your heart beats rapidly. Fluttering. Now it’s in your throat. Or maybe in your stomach? It feels hot, and your palms are sweaty, but you grab the microphone anyway. As you take a deep breath and begin to speak, a sudden cool calmness comes over you. Words pour out with ease. You feel confident. In control. And that, right there, is cortisol.
Understanding cortisol
Cortisol, often called the stress hormone, is our body’s go-to for handling stress and navigating fight-or-flight moments. It’s part of a hormonal team managed by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis—a communication network of three glands that secrete hormones to keep us alive. Cortisol is one of those hormones and is produced by the adrenal glands. Other than stress regulation, cortisol controls many things including blood pressure, ability to focus, mood, immunity, and even dictates our metabolic rhythm by signaling the body to release glucose storage in times of need.
The cortisol and glucose connection
When we eat, sugars from food are used for energy, with any excess stored in the liver and muscles—like a “sugar savings account.” But what does cortisol have to do with it? During stress or fasting, cortisol dips into that account to keep glucose levels steady in the bloodstream.
While cortisol has good intentions, some of its functions can backfire. You see, cortisol wants to help keep glucose within a healthy range. In order to accomplish this, it also blocks the hormone insulin from doing its job.
Insulin, a hormone from the pancreas, is responsible for moving sugar out of the bloodstream and into cells. When cortisol blocks insulin’s role, more sugar remains in the bloodstream. Over time, persistently high glucose levels can increase the risk of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Elevated cortisol levels can often result from chronic stress, mental health disorders, medications, cancer, or cardiovascular diseases. We also know diets high in saturated fats or processed foods contribute to dysregulation of sugar storage and insulin resistance over time. The combination of these factors with excess sugar storage can hasten the path toward type 2 diabetes.
Signs of high cortisol levels
- Elevated glucose or blood sugar
- Mood changes, trouble focusing
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- High anxiety or panic attacks
- Elevated blood pressure
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Bloating and fatty tissue around the abdomen
- Fatty tissue accumulation near the upper back
- Hair texture changes, such as patches of hair on the face or back
- Darker skin discoloration around the neck or trunk
- Skin tags, thinning or fragile skin
Staying glucose-aware
The good news is cortisol usually balances itself. In rare cases of HPA Axis dysfunction, cortisol production may become irregular. If stress is a major factor, stress management techniques—like meditation, physical activity, or better sleep—can help.
Another approach to managing stress and glucose is staying informed about your levels. Utilizing glucose biosensors like Stelo allows you to track glucose levels 24/7 and identify glucose spikes in response to stress or certain foods. The convenience of knowing your glucose levels gives you the capability to take a more targeted approach to stress management. If you suspect irregular cortisol levels or identify elevated glucose levels, meeting with your healthcare provider to discuss concerns is warranted.
The production of this article was sponsored by Stelo by Dexcom.
Author profile
RS
Rachael Sood, NP-C
Rachael is the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of The Diabetes Collective (TDC).