Stress-induced hyperglycemia in healthy bungee jumpers without diabetes due to decreased pancreatic β-cell function and increased insulin resistance.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Prospective before-and-after observational study without an independent control group
PubMed 22283617 · doi:10.1089/dia.2011.0171
What was done
Glucose levels, pancreatic beta-cell function, insulin resistance, stress hormones, and immune response markers were measured in healthy bungee jumpers at three time points: 2 hours before, immediately before, and after the jump, to evaluate glucose metabolism in an acute stress model without systemic inflammation.
What was found
No quantitative values or confidence intervals are reported in the abstract. Glucose levels and stress hormones increased right before and after the jump, while the immune response decreased. Pancreatic beta-cell function decreased right before the jump, and insulin resistance increased right after the jump. Higher post-jump cortisol correlated with increased post-jump insulin resistance. Larger pre-jump cortisol increases and post-jump epinephrine increases were associated with decreased beta-cell function.
Why it matters
This study demonstrates that acute stress can impair beta-cell function and increase insulin resistance directly, showing that stress-induced hyperglycemia does not require an activated systemic inflammatory response.
Limits
The abstract omits the sample size, baseline participant characteristics, and all numerical data (effect sizes, p-values, or confidence intervals). The study lacked a non-jumping control group to control for diurnal hormonal variations, and specific assays used were not described in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports The acute stress response raises cortisol and adrenaline levels, which suppresses digestion and increases blood glucose levels.