Work Stress Increases the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Stress at the office can influence our overall health.

A recent study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine examines how some employees under excruciating amounts of stress may be more at risk for health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes--a health issue in which the body struggles to normalize its glucose levels properly. 

Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen found that employees who report feeling significant pressure at work and little control over the things they do were close to 45 percent more likely than other employees to develop the health issue.

For the study, researchers studied over 5,300 employee participants between the ages of 29 and 66 who took part in a population-based MONIC/KOR* cohort study.

All of them were monitored for a 13-year-period. Findings revealed that close to 300 participants were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Furthermore, independent of other factors, job stress still showed an increased risk for the health issue, overall.

The findings are particularly troubling as many continuously undergo high mental stress at their jobs. However, over time, this can create hormonal imbalance and potentially increase the risk of depression, as well.

"In view of the huge health implications of stress-related disorders, preventive measures to prevent common diseases such as diabetes should therefore also begin at this point," said researcher Prof. Karl-Heinz Ladwig.