Studies suggest that depression can increase your risk for developing diabetes. In fact, a number of studies found that depressed people are two to three times more likely to get diabetes than non-depressed people. Alternatively, other research shows that people with diabetes are at a greater risk of depression than people without diabetes. The depression rate among people with diabetes is almost double that of people without diabetes. The American Diabetes Association reports that 23.6 million adults and children in the U.S. – that is 7.8 percent of the population – have diabetes, and 1.6 million new cases are diagnosed each year. The number of at-risk diabetes patients is staggering.
Why does diabetes increase your risk of depression?
Poor management of your diabetes can cause symptoms similar to depression. Low blood sugar can make you feel weary, anxious, and hungry and can disrupt your sleep. High blood sugar can make you feel tired and restless and can cause you to get up at night to urinate. These negative feelings and lack of sleep can leave you feeling fatigued and unable to cope.
Daily management of your diabetes can also be frustrating, stressful, isolating, and sad - especially if treatment is upsetting, unsuccessful, or if you feel tension from your doctor or family members. These stressful responses to daily diabetes management can snowball and can leave you feeling hopeless, lonely, angry, and worn-out. You may experience a lack of energy, an inability to concentrate, and a change in appetite, sleep patterns, and activity. If you are depressed, chances are you may abstain from good diabetes self-care, and complications can worsen, which studies show increases your risk of depression. You are now exhausted and don’t feel like testing your blood sugar regularly, which makes you anxious. Therefore, you find it hard to concentrate, which makes it hard to stick with a good diet, which affects your blood sugar…and the vicious cycle goes round and round.
Coping with diabetes can be stressful. The American Psychological Association shows ways to help manage your diabetes and reduce your risk of depression:
- "Follow your doctor's orders. An international study in 2001 revealed that less than a third of diabetes patients followed the diet, exercise and medication regimens their health-care providers recommended. A psychologist can help you find ways to adhere to your treatment regimen. In a 2002 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a lifestyle intervention that included individualized counseling on behavior change reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent.
- Come to terms with your feelings. Acknowledging your negative feelings about diabetes may actually help you keep your glucose levels stable, according to a 2007 study in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. That's because trying to avoid those thoughts can lead to more stress. Some study participants learned coping strategies via a technique called acceptance and commitment therapy; others only received information on such topics as diet and exercise. Three months after the workshop, the number of people with acceptable blood sugar levels jumped 23 percent for those receiving the psychological intervention. In the group who received only education, the number dropped by 2 percent.
- Manage your stress. Learning new coping skills can help you reduce stress. If you're afraid of overindulging in restaurants, for example, you could plan your meal ahead of time. A psychologist can help you develop effective strategies for identifying and reducing sources of stress."
American Psychological Association: www.apa.org/health-reform/diabetes.html
|
