How Natural Cortisol Impacts Your Body

7. Blood Sugar

When we feel threatened, cortisol provides energy to the musculoskeletal system to execute fight-flight-or-freeze response. Researchers believe that too much of the hormone can also induce insulin resistance and lead to diabetes by negatively affecting beta-cell function. Beta-cells are responsible for the secretion of the glucose-reducing hormones, insulin and amylin. A cross-sectional Japanese study showed a positive correlation between cortisol blood levels and the homeostatic model assessment of beta-cell function, HOMA-β, which helps professionals assess various factors causing diabetes.