Depression and diabetes: How to cope
People with diabetes experience depression much more than those who don't have diabetes. It's not clear why. But theories like these point out possibilities:
- Diabetes + Stress = Depression? - Having diabetes adds stress to your life. After all, it affects a major life activity: eating. Constant monitoring of blood sugar and medicine or insulin injections can become frustrating. Diabetes also can complicate your health risks and even relationships. Along with the normal stresses of everyday life, such factors can put you at risk for depression.
- Diabetes = A depression risk? - Diabetes affects your metabolism, how your body uses energy. This may cause chemical imbalances in the brain that could bring on depression.
- Depression = A diabetes risk? - People who are depressed are more likely to be inactive and to overeat. This can lead to obesity. And obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Similar symptoms
The signs of depression sometimes mirror those of diabetes. It might not just be diabetes if you feel tired all the time, can't concentrate, are having trouble controlling your weight or are experiencing any of the following:
- feeling sad or empty most of the day
- decreased interest in most activities
- trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- feeling guilty or worthless
- low energy level
- thoughts of suicide
If you have any of the above symptoms, ask someone on your health care team to refer you to someone who can sort out whether your symptoms are due to diabetes, depression or both.
Getting help
Treating depression in people with diabetes has been shown to help with blood sugar control. Getting help for one condition will help you deal with the other.
Treatment for depression often involves medicine, psychotherapy or both.
- Antidepressant medicine can help your body regulate chemical imbalances caused by depression and help you control how you feel. But you may have to try several kinds before you find the one that's right for you.
- Psychotherapy, or "talk" therapy, can help you recognize and address problems that may bring on your depression.
In addition, consider the following to keep your physical and emotional health at their best:
- Get active. Aerobic exercise and strength training have been shown to improve both diabetes and depression.
- Work with a health care team that you like and trust.
- Join a support group for people with diabetes.
- Learn as much as you can about your diabetes.
Dialog home page
Depression inventory Diabetes support groups Talking with your health care team
Source: American Diabetes Association; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; National Institute of Mental Health
First published: 11/06/2001
Last updated: 01/18/2006
Reviewed by: Mary Frederick, RN, diabetes program manager, Allina Medical Clinic; Paul Kleeberg, MD, medical director, Allina.com
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