THE EFFECT OF LABORATORY STRESSORS ON GLYCEMIC CONTROL AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRANSIT-TIME

This study compared effects of an active coping task (computerized stressors involving arithmetic, anagrams, and Atari games) and a passive coping task (cold pressor) on gastrointestinal transit time and glycemic response to an oral glucose load. Eleven normal weight males were studied; subjects participated in three counterbalanced sessions, each including a 45-minute baseline, 20-minute experimental period (active coping, passive coping, or nonstress control) and 2.5-hour recovery period. The stressors produced different cardiovascular and catecholamine responses; systolic and diastolic blood pressure were highest during cold pressor (p < 0.001), heart rate was highest during computer stressor (p < 0.001), and norepinephrine excretion was greatest during cold pressor (p < 0.002). However, both stressors delayed gastrointestinal transit time compared with the control condition (p < 0.009 and p < 0.026 for cold pressor and computerized stressor, respectively) and both delayed the time of peak glucose response (p < 0.002 and p < 0.05, respectively). Implications of these findings for patients with diabetes and for effects of stress on eating behavior are discussed.