Depression affects about 16 million American adults every year. It is estimated that people with diabetes are up to three times more likely to have depression than people without diabetes. Unfortunately, only 25 to 50 percent of people with diabetes who have depression get diagnosed and treated.
Depression is a condition that causes feelings of sadness most days and it is often accompanied by a loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy. It can get in the way of how well you function at work and home, including taking care of your diabetes. When you are not able to manage your diabetes well, your risk for diabetes complications goes up, that is why it important to recognize the symptoms of depression.
What are the symptoms of depression?
- Sadness or anxiety that doesn’t go away, a feeling of emptiness.
- An overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and negativity.
- Feeling powerless to change your situation.
- Loss of interest in activities or pleasures.
- Low energy and increased fatigue.
- Insomnia, oversleeping, waking early in the morning.
- Problems concentrating, memory problems, and indecisiveness.
- Dwelling on death or suicide.
- Restlessness and inability to focus.
- Weight change and decreased or increased appetite.
How are these two conditions related?
- Diabetes requires ongoing management and follow-up. This includes taking medication or injecting at the right time, maintaining a proper diet, adhering to physical activity and more. This can be stressful and may lead to symptoms of depression.
- Depression can sometimes lead to unhealthy lifestyle decisions, such as poor nutrition, poor or complete lack of exercise, smoking, drinking alcohol, and uncontrolled weight gain. All these are risk factors for developing diabetes, and if diabetes already exists it can interfere with your ability to successfully manage diabetes.
- Inflammation in the bloodstream has been found in many chronic disorders, including both diabetes and depression. No one knows for sure what causes this inflammation. It is possible that inflammation contributes to both depression and diabetes, or having diabetes or depression causes the inflammation.
Tips for managing the two conditions together.
The good news is that diabetes and depression can be treated well together. Managing one can have a positive effect on the other.
- If you have diabetes and you notice symptoms of depression, do not ignore them. Tell your health care provider. They can help assess if you have clinical depression and can start appropriate treatment.
- If you have clinical depression, know that you are at increased risk for developing diabetes. Routine screening of your blood sugars can be helpful to diagnose early and start appropriate treatment.
- Consider a change with your diet which can help improve both diabetes and mood, even in people with chronic depression. For example, the Mediterranean diet emphasizes more whole foods and eliminates processed foods and junk food, which may be enough of a dietary change for some people or diets low in carbohydrate and higher in fat that can help improve mood and energy as well.
- Exercise can help both diabetes and depression. You do not need to start at a gym if that makes you uncomfortable – you can start with short walks and work your way up to longer walks and short jogs along the way. Think about of any type of activity you can to move your body and get your blood flowing.
If you think you might have depression, get in touch with your doctor right away. The earlier depression is treated, the better for you, your quality of life, and your diabetes.
The Dario App supports you in your day-to-day management of your chronic condition. Chat with your Dario coach for guidance on your diet, activity, and relaxation choice and how they affect your medical condition.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ managing/mental-health.html
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/ diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/diabetes-and-depression/faq-20057904
- https://spectrum.diabetes journals.org/content/23/1/15
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/ us/blog/advancing-psychiatry/201902/diabetes-and-depression-which-comes-first
- https://www.diabetes.co.uk/ diabetes-and-depression.html
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