What, Me Worry?
A study published in the September issue of Diabetes Care says neurotic people with diabetes have better blood sugar control.
“A little worry and a little selfishness may benefit patients with diabetes,” wrote James D. Lane, MD, and colleagues from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.
The researchers evaluated 105 patients with type 2 diabetes based on data from personality questionnaires. They discovered anxiety, anger, hostility and depression can help motivate people with type 2 diabetes to take the necessary steps to control their blood sugars, a cornerstone to diabetes treatment.
“People with higher neuroticism scores are more prone to experience negative emotions, which include a greater tendency to worry, experience anger, frustration, guilt, sadness and hopelessness,” writes Lane. He adds these feelings might translate into greater vigilance when it comes to their self-care program.
On the other hand, people who are more relaxed about their diabetes might be less inclined to worry and more likely to neglect their own needs. The researchers argue, “A modest degree of self-centeredness to overcome social and familial barriers to regimen adherence,” is not such a bad thing.
