The Link Between Blood Sugar and Anxiety

If you’ve ever felt that cranky, shaky “I need food now” feeling after skipping a meal - that’s your blood sugar talking. What’s less obvious (but just as important) is how closely your mood, stress and anxiety are all tied to these blood sugar ups and downs.

Why balanced blood sugar matters

Even if you feel like you generally live a healthy lifestyle, it’s surprisingly easy to miss the signs of blood sugar imbalance (or confuse them for something else entirely). When blood sugar isn’t well-regulated, it can swing too high or too low, leading to sharp rises and crashes throughout the day.

These fluctuations can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, and in more serious cases, may require medical attention. Some of the most common signs include:

• Energy slumps
• Jitteriness or anxiety
• Increased thirst
• Headaches
• Shakiness
• Feeling faint
• Rapid heart rate

How Stress Impacts Blood Sugar

When we experience stress, our bodies activate the well-known “fight-or-flight” response. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released to prepare us to respond to perceived threats. While this response can be helpful in true emergencies, it comes at a cost. Body systems like digestion slow down, and blood sugar levels shift to provide immediate energy.

It’s important to note that our body responds the same way whether the stress is physical (like poor nutrition or lack of exercise) or emotional (like work or financial stress). This is where blood sugar dysregulation starts to show up.

The Stress and Blood Sugar Cycle

Emerging research highlights the close relationship between mood and blood sugar fluctuations. Not only can unstable blood sugar cause stress within the body, but stress itself can throw off blood sugar balance, creating a vicious cycle.

• Stress hormones like cortisol raise blood sugar to supply quick energy to muscles and vital organs.
• Chronic stress can lead to frequent blood sugar spikes, followed by sudden drops causing fatigue, shakiness, nausea and anxiety.
• Interestingly, symptoms of blood sugar imbalances closely mimic common signs of stress and anxiety.

The Unique Impact on Women

For women, hormones play an extra role in blood sugar regulation. Throughout the menstrual cycle, shifts in oestrogen and adrenaline can directly impact both the nervous system and blood sugar stability.

Studies have found that women tend to maintain healthier blood sugar levels during the follicular phase (the first half of the cycle starting on day one of your period), while more frequent blood sugar highs occur during the luteal phase (the second half of the cycle after ovulation).

How to Support Blood Sugar and Manage Stress

The good news? There are practical, daily habits that can help stabilise blood sugar and support mood and energy levels.

Take electrolytes

Because the autonomic nervous system regulates both blood sugar and blood pressure, staying hydrated with electrolytes (particularly sodium) helps maintain blood volume and avoid the lows that can trigger fatigue and anxiety.

Electrolyte⁴ contains 4 essential electrolytes at a clinically proven dose (including 1000mg sodium) to support optimal hydration, energy and muscle recovery.

Prioritise protein

Starting your day with around 30g of protein improves satiety, supports insulin sensitivity, and reduces the risk of blood sugar crashes later in the day.

5 examples of what 30g of protein looks like:

• 5 whole eggs
• 1 cup full fat cottage cheese
• 1 large can of tuna
• 1 large chicken breast
• 1.5 serves Two Islands Pea Protein

Support your nervous system

Balancing your nervous system is a key piece of the puzzle. Important nutrients to help regulate stress responses and support stable blood sugar include:

• B vitamins, zinc, choline, magnesium.
• Adaptogenic herbs like Ashwagandha can help support the way the body responds to stress, enhancing stress resilience and managing cortisol levels.
• Amino acids like L-theanine and GABA.

Happy Days is our feel-good formula that contains Ashwagandha and L-theanine and Saffron to support mood and stress.

Learn more about how to support the nervous system to reduce stress here.