Higher glucose levels buffer against everyday stress load

Abstract

Adaptive stress responses are dependent on the availability of energy and the bodys effectiveness in metabolizing glucose as fuel. However, it is not well understood if glucose levels contribute to the functional regulation of daily stress in healthy individuals. Here, we used 4,307 ratings of stress during a four-week period of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) with concurrent recordings from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in 91 participants (47 women). In accordance with the hypothesized metabolic link, we found that higher glucose levels were associated with lower self-reported stress (b = -.038, p = .035, controlling for mood). Crucially, dynamic changes in glucose levels also precipitated subsequent increases in stress levels (0-2h before EMA: p = .013; incremental effect 10-12h before: p < .001), with lower glucose levels associated with subsequent stress increases and elevated glucose with stress relief, highlighting the potential of monitoring physiological biosensor data to improve adaptive stress regulation. We conclude that metabolic signals, such as glucose, play an important role in channeling stress responsiveness in healthy adults, pointing to a pivotal avenue for improved interventions to avoid excessive stress experiences.