How does Mobile Phone affect Blood Glucose?

The rapid integration of mobile phones into daily life has raised questions about their impact on various aspects of health, including blood sugar levels.

Although there is no direct evidence linking mobile phone usage to changes in blood glucose, several indirect effects are worth exploring, especially for individuals managing conditions like diabetes.

Sedentary Behavior when using Mobile Phones

Prolonged phone use often encourages sedentary behavior, such as sitting for long periods while scrolling through apps or watching videos.

Physical inactivity is a known risk factor for insulin resistance, a condition where cells become less responsive to insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose. In contrast, regular physical activity helps improve insulin sensitivity and lowers blood sugar.

Individuals who spend significant time on their phones may unintentionally compromise their blood sugar control by reducing their overall activity levels.

Stress and Cortisol Levels while using Mobile Phones

One potential link between mobile phone use and blood sugar levels is stress. Excessive phone usage, particularly exposure to constant notifications and social media, can lead to increased stress levels.

Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels by signaling the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream.

Chronic stress from overuse of mobile devices may, therefore, make it more challenging for people with diabetes to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

Sleep Disruption

Excessive screen time, especially before bedtime, can disrupt sleep patterns. The blue light emitted by phone screens suppresses melatonin production, delaying sleep onset and reducing sleep quality.

Poor sleep has been shown to affect glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity negatively. For people with diabetes, this disruption can lead to morning blood sugar spikes and increased difficulty in managing their condition.

Diet Choices while using Mobile Phone

Mobile phone use may also influence dietary habits. Food delivery apps and social media advertisements often promote unhealthy, high-sugar, or high-calorie foods.

Spending significant time on these platforms can lead to impulsive food choices that affect blood sugar levels.

Additionally, distracted eating while using a phone can result in overeating, further complicating glucose management.

A medical team from National Institute on Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Maryland, headed by Dr. Nora D. Volkow, MD, has conducted a study on how the brain cells use glucose when mobile phone antenna meets the user’s head.

A total of 47 healthy subjects and users of hand phone was allowed to participate in the study, the brain area of whom were investigated using positron emission tomography (PET) during cell phone use in the on and then off positions.

In this study, a significant increase in the glucose metabolism of the orbito-frontal cortex and the temporal pole areas of the brain (areas close to the place the phone’s antenna meets the head) was observed when cell phone was on.

However, the entire brain metabolism was not affect in the current study, partially attributed to the limits of this research when the users was not allowed to talk, so the study findings won’t be confounded.

The questions raised from this study concern the long-term effects of radiofrequency emissions from wireless phones, especially when children and adolescents (who are still under rapid development) are addicted or regular use the cell phone. The worries enhance when the user’s are talking on their hands phones

At the end, the science has increased the potential of communication. However, we are all putting ourselves and our children in the frequent exposure to these radio-frequency emissions. Although these might be huge concerns, we wonder if “Could we still use hand phones?”

According to Dr. Volkow, hands-free devices or speaker-phone mode are some good alternatives to avoid direct contact of the hand phone with the head. I am sure we all can do that. However, attention is also recalled to the place we put our cell phone.

Please don’t:

- place it near your head (under or beside the pillow) when you sleep

- place near the abdomen (especially near the genital areas) to avoid problems with fertility or sex.

- try to educate your children not to use hand phones. When it comes to adolescents, try to convince and explain to them the risks of frequent use of hand phones and on safely use.

Please provide any other updates or self-experience and share with other readers.

Thank you.
Alba