Blood Sugar & Stress: The Sneaky Connection You Might Be Missing

Stress is tricky.

It often feels like a mindset issue but many people don’t realize how imbalances in the body can make them feel even more overwhelmed, anxious, or exhausted.

One of the biggest hidden players?

👉 Blood sugar swings.

When your blood sugar crashes, your body releases cortisol, the stress hormone, to help bring it back up. The result?You may feel tired, wired, moody, or have trouble sleeping, even if your external stress hasn’t changed.

Signs your blood sugar might be affecting your stress levels:

• You get “hangry” or irritable between meals

• You feel shaky, anxious, or foggy if you haven’t eaten

• You crash hard after eating sugar or refined carbs

• You wake up in the middle of the night (often around 2–3 a.m.)

How to stabilize your blood sugar—for better stress resilience:

✔️ Start your day with protein & healthy fat.Skip the sugary breakfast and fuel up with things like eggs, avocado, or a smoothie with protein and fiber.

✔️ Don’t skip meals.Low blood sugar can spike cortisol and make your stress symptoms worse. Regular meals = more stability.

✔️ Pair your carbs wisely.Always eat carbohydrates with protein or fiber to slow the glucose spike and prevent that rollercoaster crash.

✔️ Cut back on ultra-processed foods.They may give you a quick high but the crash that follows makes everything harder (including managing stress).

You can’t control every stressor in life…

But you can support your body so it’s better equipped to handle the ups and downs.

💛 Have you ever noticed food affecting your mood or stress levels?

Every meal is a chance to nourish your body in a way that supports balance and well-being. Small changes can make a big difference!  Ready to take a functional medicine approach to your health? Let’s tackle this together.