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Relieving Stress at the Dog Park
Want to meet some characters? Join
me at the dog park. Each morning, after I drop my son off at school, I
head to the park with my miniature schnauzer, Zoe. She sniffs and I
schmooze.
The park is filled with unusual folks (and their dogs) at that hour: several
authors, a T.V. anchor, the manager of a recording group, a court reporter, a
fountain pen collector, several yoga instructors, and even a malaria expert.
I spend about an hour in the park then head home. This sets the tone for
my day – I start slow and try to keep any stress to a minimum.
Stress causes numerous changes in the body. Remember the fight-or-flight
response? When faced with a threat, either physical or mental, certain
hormone levels in our body begin to climb. They enable us to tap into our
energy stores of glucose and fat and either face the challenge head-on, or run
like the wind.
If you have diabetes, stress can affect your blood sugar control. During a
stressful period, some people neglect their diabetes; they don’t eat properly,
exercise or even take their medications. They may engage in negative
behaviors, such as drinking or overeating. Even an emotional challenge can
cause blood sugar levels to jump:
“Last year, I opened my own
business. While telling my current bosses that I was leaving the firm to
start my own company, I began to sweat and feel sick. They weren’t
taking it well. I was like a son to them and they took my leaving very
personally. I assumed that my feelings were a reaction to the hostile
environment in the room, but I checked my blood sugar anyway. I
couldn’t believe it – I was at a whopping 537mg/dl! I have type 1
diabetes and an A1C* of 5.3 percent. My control is superb; I never go
high. I searched for some water or something non- caloric to drink and
gave myself some additional insulin. My blood sugar control returned
to normal after a day or so.”
--John (from The Secrets of Living and Loving with Diabetes, Surrey
Books)
*A1C is the measure of diabetes
control for the past 2-3 months. The ADA goal is less than 7 percent.
Here are some ways to help you reduce
the stress in your life:
- Share your frustrations with a friend or counselor
- Schedule a massage
-
Exercise
- Get adequate rest
- Go for a walk
- See a movie
- Listen to your
favorite music
Here are some ways to help you reduce the stress in your life:
- Share your frustrations with a friend or counselor
- Schedule a massage
-
Exercise
- Get adequate rest
- Go for a walk
- See a movie
- Listen to your
favorite music
According to the experts at Cleveland Clinic, certain food choices can also
help reduce stress:
- Eat a wide variety of healthy foods.
- Eat in moderation -- control the portions of the foods you eat.
- Reach a healthy weight and maintain it.
- Eat at least 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
- Eat food that is high in dietary fiber such as whole grain cereals,
legumes and vegetables.
- Minimize your daily fat intake. Choose foods low in saturated fat and
cholesterol.
- Limit your consumption of sugar and salt.
- Limit the amount of alcohol that you drink.
- Make small changes in your diet over time.
- Combine healthy eating habits with a regular exercise program.
You may not have the luxury of taking a daily walk accompanied by a pampered
pooch, but there are ways to reduce some of the anxiety in your life. Try
the suggestions listed above or come up with some of your own. And, as Zoe
suggests, remember to take time to sniff the roses.
You may not have the luxury of taking a daily walk accompanied by a pampered
pooch, but there are ways to reduce some of the anxiety in your life. Try
the suggestions listed above or come up with some of your own. And, as Zoe
suggests, remember to take time to sniff the roses.
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