AFFILIATIVE AROUSAL, ALEXITHYMIA, DOPAMINE RELEASE AND BLOOD-SUGAR MOBILIZATION IN HEALTHY-ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

In a study of 49 healthy adults and 30 adults with insulin dependent d iabetes mellitus (IDDM), it was shown that matching affiliative emotio nal arousal with a strong need for Affiliation led to increased dopami ne release among alexithymics in either group of subjects. This result is in line with previous research and theory indicating alexithymics tend to express emotional arousal through physiological channels rathe r than through conscious feelings as reflected in the use of emotion w ords. High levels of dopamine release in turn were associated with rel atively greater mobilization of blood glucose in all subjects. The rel ationships discovered represent a risk for those with IDDM because the y are significantly more often high in the need for Affiliation and al exithymic and because among them the increased release of dopamine by affiliative stimulation and the related mobilization of blood sugar ar e significantly associated with poor metabolic control.