Mindset Matters: How Positive Thinking Supports Brain Health and Blood Sugar
Brain Wellness Month is the perfect time to explore the connection between your thoughts, your brain, and your diabetes management. While many people focus on diet and exercise, your mindset plays a powerful role in how your brain functions, how you handle stress, and even how stable your blood sugar remains.
The Science Behind Mindset and Brain Function
Your brain is an adaptable organ. Through a process called neuroplasticity, it can rewire itself based on the thoughts and habits you practice every day. Positive thinking isn’t just about “feeling good.” Research shows that it can:
- Reduce cortisol (a stress hormone that can raise blood sugar)
- Improve problem-solving skills
- Strengthen areas of the brain responsible for memory and decision-making
For people with diabetes, this matters. Stable moods and lower stress hormones mean fewer spikes in blood sugar and more consistent energy levels throughout the day.
How Mindset Affects Blood Sugar Management
When your mindset is optimistic and resilient, you’re more likely to:
- Make better food choices
- Stick to movement routines
- Keep up with self-care practices
- Respond to setbacks without giving up
On the other hand, chronic negative thinking can increase stress, make it harder to follow routines, and even affect your sleep, all of which can lead to higher blood sugar levels.
3 Mindset Practices for Better Brain and Blood Sugar Health
- Start Your Day with Gratitude: Before you reach for your phone, take two minutes to think of three things you’re grateful for. This small shift boosts dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter that helps with motivation and focus.
- Practice Thought Labeling: When a thought pops up, name it: planning, worrying, remembering, imagining. This helps you separate yourself from unhelpful thoughts and keeps your mind anchored in the present.
- Reframe Challenges: Instead of focusing on the problem, ask, “What can I learn from this?” or “What positive outcome could come from this situation?” Reframing helps build resilience and keeps your brain’s stress response in check.
How to Put This Into Action
- Set a daily reminder for your gratitude scan
- Keep a journal nearby for quick mindset exercises
- Share one positive reframe with a friend or support group each week
The key is consistency. These practices only take a few minutes but can have a lasting impact on both your brain and your blood sugar.
Continue Your Brain Wellness Journey
Mindset is a skill you can strengthen in any season. If you’d like more ideas to keep your thoughts and energy working for you, even during the warmer months, here’s another resource you may enjoy: Mindset for Summer Blood Sugar - Discover how your thoughts and daily habits can keep your blood sugar steady and your mind clear all season long.
Let’s Talk About Your Wellness Goals
Book your complimentary Diabetes Wellness Connection Call to share your goals, discuss your current challenges, and learn the next steps you can take. It’s not about giving you a full plan on the spot, but about uncovering what will work best for you so you can feel in control of your health again.
Fast-paced lives, constant decision-making, and daily responsibilities can silently add stress to your brain and body. Let’s make sure you’re supporting both.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Cheryl
Dr. Ac., C.H., RDH
Dr. Holistic Studies, Dr. Acupuncture
Diabetes Wellness Strategist & Coach
Creator & CEO of Holistic Diabetes Solutions
8 X International Best-Selling Author
As a woman living with diabetes for over 30 years, Dr. Cheryl understands the journey firsthand. When she was diagnosed, she received the same outdated advice her grandmother was given for over four decades, who relied primarily on medication, suffered from deteriorating health and eventually lost her life to diabetes. Fueled by this experience, Dr. Cheryl was compelled to seek a better way. Through countless research studies and trials, she developed the winning holistic approach: the Diabetes Success System which merges traditional wisdom with today’s best holistic self-care practices. It has revolutionized diabetes management by providing a trusted way to maintain consistent and predictable healthy blood sugar levels.
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PROFESSIONAL DISCLAIMER
The material and content contained in this platform is for overall general diabetes health and education information only. It is not intended to constitute medical advice or to be a substitution for professional medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. All specific medical questions or changes you make to your medication and/or lifestyle should be discussed and addressed with your primary healthcare provider. Having the right mindset, doing the right movements at the right times of day, and eating foods that help keep blood sugar, insulin, and inflammation manageable can dramatically reduce your risk of the all-too-common complications of Diabetes, increase your energy levels and have you feeling your best every day.
