Does stress affect blood sugar?

Elísabet Reynisdóttir, known as Beta Reynis, decided to turn herself into a small research project before travelling to England in mid-August. Although she does not have diabetes, the nutritionist wanted to experience what it was like to wear a Fora Connect 21 glucose monitor before discussing such devices with clients.

During a relaxing trip filled with yoga, meditation, music, dancing, beautiful surroundings and good company, she watched how food, sleep, exercise, stress and daily life affected the line on the sensor attached to her arm. A heatwave in England also gave her something to observe: during the hottest part of the day, her blood sugar often appeared to rise unusually.

The most striking reading came on the journey home. Reynisdóttir had arranged to return a day before the rest of her group and arrived dutifully at Heathrow. Only at check-in did she realise the mistake: her flight was leaving from Gatwick.

The discovery instantly changed her state. She called her daughter, explored ways to reach Gatwick and decided to take a chance in a taxi. As time became tight, she felt her mind accelerate, her body tense and anxiety build. When she checked the monitor, the line had shot upward and looked, she wrote, like a seismograph before a major event. She had not been eating. The change was in her condition: intense stress had taken over.