Just another reason to be nice...a study reveals that people with high stress and high hostility levels have an increased risk of developing insulin resistance. This means that the body's response to insulin begins to slow down and blood sugars rise. This increases the likelihood of developing diabetes.

Previous research has shown that insulin resistance is associated with stress and certain personality factors, including hostility. Researchers hypothesized that hostility may interact with stress to affect insulin resistance. The study measured levels of norepinephrine in the urine. Norepinephrine is an indicator of stress. The Cook-Medley Hostility scale was used to measure hostility. (What kind of world do we live in that actually warrants a scientific scale to measure hostility!?!?) Insulin resistance was measured by the homeostatic model assessment index, 2-hour post-challenge glucose, and insulin levels after factoring in the influence of nine other risk factors. The study found that there is a statistical interaction between hostility and stress level in gauging insulin resistance. People with higher levels of hostility don't always have worse insulin resistance, but they do when they are under stress, especially high levels of chronic stress.

The team also found that not all components of hostility are related to insulin resistance. For instance, cynicism is a personality trait that is strongly related to insulin resistance. I'm telling you, the more I read into this study, the more I realize I need an attitude adjustment. And it continues.... because people with high hostility (especially high cynicism) tend to have worse insulin resistance under stress, it is important to target this population for preventive interventions. Anytime the severity of a situation rises to "intervention" status -- it takes on a whole new meaning. This begs the question -- who wants to brave an intervention for a hostile and stressed looming diabetic? Not it!