The Diabetes-Depression Connection
You likely know that people with diabetes have elevated risk for heart disease and stroke. But did you also know that nearly 30 percent of people with diabetes also suffer from depression? That compares with less than 7 percent for the general adult population, according to U.S. government data.
No one quite knows whether diabetes causes depression or if it’s the other way around. But we do know that diabetes and depression are deeply connected. The two conditions feed off each other, intensifying the symptoms and complications of both. For example, people who suffer from chronic depression tend to have higher blood pressure and are more prone to heart disease. And rates of insulin resistance are 23 percent higher among depressed women.
Even further, people with both diseases are three times more likely to die from coronary artery disease than if you have neither.
All people have emotional and mental highs and lows. But these “blue” feelings are usually temporary, and are often easy to figure out—a bad period at work, struggles with loved ones, even the changing seasons. Depression, on the other hand, drags on for weeks or even months, and is a much more complex condition. It affects your mood, your thoughts, and your physical body—your body chemistry is usually off balance when you suffer from depression, which is why doctors often prescribe medications for the condition. Depression also interferes with the way you eat and how well you sleep, two major factors in blood-sugar management. If you’re depressed, you’re also much less likely to feel like exercising.
Think about how you’re feeling now and consider whether you have any of the following symptoms of depression:
- feelings of sadness, emptiness or worthlessness
- difficulty concentrating
- short-term memory loss
- pessimism
- fatigue
- loss of enjoyment of activities you once found pleasurable
- changes in appetite and sleep patterns
- lack of sexual desire
- irritability
It’s perfectly normal to have some of these symptoms, even several of these symptoms, for a day or so. But if you have several of these symptoms for more than two weeks, make an appointment to see your doctor.
If you are diagnosed with depression, you’re far from alone. Millions of people share this condition. The good news is that the majority of them who seek treatment, and stick with it, feel as good as new after a month or so.
But many people don’t get help, preferring to “tough it out” because they view depression as a weakness. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you’re feeling down in the dumps, the sentence “I deserve to feel better” should be your mantra. You owe it not only to your mental health, but also to your physical health. Don’t let depression interfere with your diabetes management. It doesn’t have to—and you can’t let it, because not getting help for depression can seriously hinder your ability to deal with your diabetes.
