Stress-inducing events like a big game, a first date, or a difficult calculus exam play a role in how happy or anxious teens are. Now scientists say typical adolescent concerns like these could make diabetes management harder for teens with type 1. Researchers asked 62 children between the ages of 11 and 16 (all of whom had had type 1 diabetes for at least a year) to note in a diary for two weeks their moods, blood glucose readings, and confidence in their ability to manage their disease. On days the teens reported negative feelings like anger, anxiety, and distress, they had higher glucose levels. But on days when they noted positive emotions like interest and enthusiasm, their blood glucose levels were lower. Whether feeling down leads to poor diabetes management or high blood glucose makes teens feel depressed isn’t clear. But recognizing these emotions could help teens gain better control.
Source: Annals of Behavioral Medicine, March 3, 2009