It’s an often-overlooked factor in managing diabetes, says Joshua Joseph, MD, but the stress hormone cortisol is clearly linked with higher blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Joseph, an Ohio State endocrinologist and researcher, published a study in Psychoneuroendocrinology in summer 2020, showing that patients with type 2 diabetes with higher glucose levels had sustained cortisol levels throughout the day, rather than experiencing the natural peaks and valleys of cortisol that one would see in healthy people.

“The rhythm of cortisol over 24 hours seems to be very important in multiple health outcomes, including diabetes,” Dr. Joseph says. “Those with diabetes need to manage their cortisol levels to manage their glucose levels.”

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Joshua Joseph, MD

Endocrinology
Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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