The stress hormone cortisol seems to play a role in type 2 diabetes About 1 in 4 people with tough-to-treat type 2 diabetes have high cortisol levels Cortisol helps regulate blood sugar levels, metabolism and blood pressure WEDNESDAY, June 26, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The stress hormone cortisol appears to play a role in tough-to-treat type 2 diabetes , a new study finds. About 1 in 4 people (24%) with tough-to-treat type 2 diabetes have elevated cortisol levels, researchers found. “These results are significant as they highlight a previously underrecognized factor contributing to the barriers when it comes to managing type 2 diabetes,” said lead researcher Dr.
John Buse , from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine Diabetes Center and Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands. The hormone affects nearly every organ and tissue in the body, and plays many important roles in daily function, the Cleveland Clinic says.
Among those roles, cortisol helps regulate blood sugar levels, metabolism, blood pressure and inflammation. Hypercortisolism -- higher-than-normal levels of cortisol -- can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, muscle weakness and mood changes, researchers said. All of these problems can further complicate diabetes management.
For this study, researchers screened over 1,000 diabetics whose hemoglobin A1C levels remained high even though they were receiving multiple diabetes therapies. The researcher.
