A: The adrenal glands release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These “stress hormones” impact many important functions throughout the body, including regulating blood sugar and controlling potassium and sodium levels, which in turn also impacts blood sugar. So, they interact pretty closely.
Also, one of the most common causes of adrenal fatigue is chronic stress, which creates an intense demand for stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. If you are struggling with chronic stress, one of the most common root causes or triggers is metabolic/glycemic dysregulation. Researchers in Poland have found that up to 50 percent of patients with Hashimoto’s have an impaired tolerance to carbohydrates. This means that after consuming carbohydrate-rich foods, their blood sugar levels would spike up very high, causing a great amount of insulin release. The role of insulin is to clear blood sugar out of our cells, so a large insulin release is followed by a rapid drop of blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Symptoms of hypoglycemia are very unpleasant and may include irritability, fainting, lightheadedness, or tremors. Hypoglycemia necessitates the release of cortisol to help maintain the glucose supply to the brain and counteracts insulin, causing insulin resistance. This is also linked to the type 2 diabetes epidemic.
I’m linking an article on adrenals and how they impact our health written by Dr. Wentz that you may find helpful.