What's The Link Between Depression And Diabetes And How To Deal With Mental Health Problems?

Depression is becoming an increasingly common disease in the general population — studies estimate that one in four people will, at some point in their life, experience depression. Diabetics have an even higher risk of developing depression, with up to half of people with diabetes suffering from either depression or anxiety at one point or another.

What is depression?

Depression is a debilitating mental illness that can have a serious impact on both physical and mental health. If you experience symptoms associated with depression for more than two weeks, see a doctor or a therapist:

• Feeling sad or down most of the day.
• Losing interest or happiness when doing most normal activities.
• Changes in behavior, such as not going out, not doing things at home or work, withdrawing from loved ones, relying on alcohol and other substances, no longer doing things you used to enjoy, and an inability to concentrate.
• Losing your appetite or binge eating.
• Having thoughts about killing yourself.
• Harming yourself.
• Feeling overwhelmed, guilty, irritable, frustrated, unhappy, indecisive, disappointed, and miserable.
• Feeling tired, sick and run down.
• Not sleeping well or sleeping too much.

So, what is the link between diabetes and depression?

Having to cope with a chronic illness

It can be a lot for anyone to deal with a chronic illness such as diabetes, especially since diabetes is accompanied by a lot of biological and hormonal changes. Furthermore, the need to manage the condition every single day, whether it be checking your blood glucose levels or administering insulin, can cause patients to develop depression. In fact, one study found that depressed diabetes patients tend to have higher blood sugar levels, as well.

Depression and diabetes are a self-perpetuating cycle

Diabetes increases the risk of depression, which in turn causes people to have trouble following through with regular, everyday activities. Since managing diabetes involves a lot of important everyday habits (such as taking insulin, eating a healthy diet, and exercising), these habits may be pushed aside, worsening diabetes symptoms. That, then, makes a person even more depressed. It can be hard to break out of that cycle.

Alterations of brain chemistry

At the end of the day, depression is just like any other illness and there is a major biological component to it. Depression develops due to alterations in brain chemistry, which are further exacerbated when there are biological issues in the body (like. diabetes). Thus, the hormonal changes associated with diabetes can either cause or worsen depression. Aside from hormonal changes, diabetics also incur damage to the blood vessels that supply the brain with necessary oxygen and nutrients, which also contributes to depression.  

Treatment for combined depressed and diabetes

Similar to other types of illnesses, depression can and should be treated by a doctor. Treatment for depression can not only lift depression but also help manage your diabetes better. Conversely, managing your diabetes can make you less likely to become depressed or make your depression easier to manage.

Essentially, depression can be viewed as is just another complication of diabetes. Therefore, treatment should focus on both diabetes and depression. Depression treatment is not a one-size fits all approach, and will have to be individualized for each person. Some treatments are specific to depression, while others can hep manage both depression and diabetes.

Treatment for both depression and diabetes

• Exercise. Studies have shown that both symptoms of both depression and diabetes can be alleviated by increasing your level of physical activity.
• Eating a healthier diet. Similar to exercise, symptoms of both depression and diabetes can be improved by eating healthier foods that contain the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function optimally.
• Limiting alcohol intake. Alcohol worsens both depression and diabetes. Therefore, limiting alcohol can help improve both conditions.
• Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of both depression and diabetes. Losing weight can help improve both conditions.

Treatment for depression

The best treatment for depression includes both medical care and lifestyle changes. These include:

• Medication. Numerous antidepressants are available. Talk to your doctor about the right medication for you. You might have to try a few different antidepressants and dosages to find the right treatment plan for you.
• Social activities. Becoming more involved in social activities can help improve your depression.
• Talk to a therapist. Many patients find that talking to a therapist can help improve their depression and help them work through many issues.
• Stress reduction. Stress is a very important factor when it comes to depression, so employing stress-reduction techniques can help alleviate some aspects of depression.

Can anti-depressants affect your diabetes?

Studies have found that anti-depressants can significantly increase the risk of developing diabetes among people who are already at a risk of getting diabetes. Researchers have found that while depression alone does not increase the risk of developing diabetes, taking antidepressants raises the risk two to three times. Interestingly, this increased risk was not seen in individuals who were taking both antidepressants and the diabetes drug metformin. If you are at a higher risk for developing diabetes (for example, if you have prediabetes), talk to your doctor before going on antidepressants.