Effects of Everyday Stressors on Blood Glucose and Heart Rate in a Type 1 Diabetic

The study measured the everyday effects of acute stressors on blood glucose(BG) levels and heart rate (HR) levels in a female, 21 years of age, whois a type 1 diabetic. The hypothesis is that type 1 diabetics who are facedwith an acute stressor will have an abnormally elevated BG level and anincreased HR for a prolonged period of time and that these variables willbe positively correlated. BG levels and HR was recorded for over three daysfor a baseline and then were recorded at the time of acute stressors andseveral times after their initial occurrence. BG levels were obtained from acontinuous glucose monitoring sensor worn by the patient. The baseline BGlevel was calibrated with data obtained from the most recent hemoglobinA1c blood test. HR levels were obtained from a Fitbit tracker that continuouslymonitored the HR levels. The time of the stressor and food that wasconsumed at or near the time of occurrence was also recorded. The resultsshowed that BG levels were consistently high an hour after the time of thestressor and remained elevated for at least two hours after. HR levels werealso the highest at the time of the event and remained above the baselinelevel for at least one hour after the stressor. Behavioral methods to reduceacute stress reactions may be useful to ameliorate these effects.