I’m a doctor – this is how LAUGHING can keep your blood sugar in check

By Liam On Apr 6, 2023

Attending a stand-up, watching a comedy show, or just having a little giggle with your friends could be the healthiest thing you can do this weekend.

That’s because laughter has been shown to lower your blood glucose levels — which may be sky-high during Easter’s chocolate feast.

For many people, swallowing chocolate will result in a burst of energy, even a jittery feeling or a feeling of dizziness.

This is the result of the sugar shooting into our bloodstream, giving us that spike in blood glucose, which is usually followed by an energy crash.

In addition to making us feel tired and hungry, having repeated sugar spikes and crashes has been linked to a range of health problems, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease, and can lead to pre-diabetes and eventually type 2 diabetes.

Laughter has been shown to lower your blood glucose levels – which may be skyrocketing during Easter’s chocolate feast

“If we eat something, especially something like an Easter egg with a lot of sugar, it causes a rapid rise in blood glucose,” says Doctor Nicky Keya hormone expert and honorary clinical lecturer in medicine at University College London.

Insulin is released to lower blood sugar by helping the sugar leave the bloodstream and enter the body’s cells so it can be used for energy. It also signals the liver to store the glucose for later use.

“However, you can make insulin’s job easier by doing things that help get glucose levels back to healthy levels quickly,” she says.

‘Exercise is known as one of these actions, because active muscles need glucose for energy. We use muscles to laugh, so laughter has a blood glucose lowering effect.’

A Japanese study confirms that laughter can be the best medicine if you overdo it with sweet things.

In 2003, Dr. Keiko Hayashi of Tsukuba University fed two groups of volunteers, some with diabetes and some without diabetes, the same meal and then had them watch a 40-minute lecture. Then they repeated the process, but this time they watched a 40-minute comedy.

Their blood glucose levels were tested after both activities and they found that both groups had significantly lowered blood glucose levels after the comedy show compared to after the lecture.

Why is that? “Laughter can take more energy for muscles,” says Dr. Keay, author of Hormones, Health and Human Potential: A Guide to Understanding Your Hormones to Optimize Your Health and Performance.

“Our mood can also affect blood glucose control — we know that stress raises blood glucose, so the reverse may apply.”

And as if we needed any more excuses for a laugh — splitting your sides can also be good for your heart.

‘Laughter lowers the stress hormones. Stress increases cortisol, which raises blood glucose, increases heart rate, constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure as part of the “fight or flight” response.

‘All of these reactions increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in the long term. But being happy and laughing has exactly the opposite physiological effects.

‘Therefore, laughter could play an important role in reducing the risk of heart disease, angina pectoris and stroke. Laughter can also promote circulation and may be helpful for patients with diabetic neuropathy [when the nerves become damaged]one of the complications of diabetes.

“According to research from the Institute of Psychiatry in London, being sad restricts blood flow, while laughter stimulates blood vessels to function normally,” she adds.

So if you have type 2 diabetes, what should you do?

‘To start with, it is best to treat type 2 with healthy eating and regular exercise to encourage weight loss in obese or overweight people,’ says Dr Anand Velusamy, consultant endocrinologist at London Bridge Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK .

It is also recommended to monitor blood sugar levels, especially with a quarterly average blood glucose test called HbA1c.

The drug metformin is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes because it helps the body maintain healthy blood sugar levels and improve natural insulin sensitivity.

‘Insulin treatment is used if blood sugar is difficult to control despite tablets or temporarily to control blood sugar quickly.

“If you experience symptoms of type 2 diabetes, including increased urination, thirst, exhaustion and irritability, you should see your doctor to have your blood glucose levels tested.”

Six ways to balance your blood sugar revealed

Rob Hobson, a Registered Dietitian, Sports Nutritionist and Head of Nutrition at Healthspan, often sees retail clients struggling to manage sugar spikes. Here are his five tips for keeping blood glucose stable.

1. Chrome

Chromium supports blood sugar control by affecting the efficient transport of glucose into cells. Once glucose is delivered to the cells, it can be used for energy and blood sugar levels become more balanced and stable.

Chromium also helps the body process carbohydrates, proteins and fats from the foods we eat. This can also be found in a supplement. Studies have suggested that taking chromium picolinate.

(which is easiest for the body to use in supplement form) can help lower insulin levels and improve blood sugar metabolism in both obese people and those with type 2 diabetes.

2. Canned beans

Legumes such as beans, legumes and lentils are among the richest sources of dietary fiber. Ensuring your meals are high in fiber can help slow the release of glucose into the bloodstream, helping to balance blood sugar levels.

You can add canned legumes to many dishes, including soups, stews, and salads. You can also make delicious dipping sauces, such as hummus.

3. Apples

Unlike some fruits — especially watery fruits like melons — apples have a low glycemic index (GI), meaning they release their sugars more slowly and have less impact on blood sugar.

These fruits are also a good source of a fiber called pectin, as well as antioxidant polyphenols. Try swapping your sugary sweet snack for an apple — add a tablespoon of peanut butter to sliced apples for extra fiber and a little protein.

4. Pumpkin seeds

Not only are these seeds high in fiber, which helps balance blood sugar levels, but they are also a rich source of magnesium. This mineral plays an important role in the action of insulin, allowing the body to use it more effectively.

Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on yoghurt, porridge and salads or eat as a blood sugar friendly snack.

5. Broccoli

This cruciferous vegetable contains a type of isothiocyanate called sulforaphane, which is believed to have blood sugar lowering properties. This compound becomes available when broccoli is chewed and has been shown in studies to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels.

6. Cinnamon

Research has shown that cinnamon may also help improve blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. A study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that a daily intake of 1.3 or 6 g of serum glucose, triglyceride and LDL cholesterol after 40 days in a group of 60 middle-aged diabetics.

Cinnamon can be added to hot drinks, soups, salad dressings, curries and as a topping for yogurt or porridge. Cinnamon is also available as a supplement, such as Healthspan Cinnamon 1000mg (£14.45 for 120 tablets). Consult with your