Are diabetics more prone to depression?

Yes, according to Diabetes UK (the charity), one in three. They devote a whole page to it
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to...Coping_with_diabetes/Depression_and_diabetes/
and reading forums certainly makes you aware of it.

I was asked the very same questions at my checkup in December.

I answered yes to both questions.

They noted the answers and carried on. So what was the point of that? They didn't bother trying to resolve the issue or even discuss it. Just noted the answers.

Bizarre!

I think ANYONE with a medical condition is prone to depression. Especially a long-term condition like diabetes.
I'm 'lucky' I have diabetes, epilepsy, probably MS, am very dizzy etc etc etc.
Depression is also linked to being diagnosed with all of those conditions. So I believe that it's anything that's depressing to have!
So I very prone to depression. At the moment I've got used to the idea of the majority of my medical problems and the antidepressants are working for me. So I'm not depressed at the moment. Which is why I don't want to obsess about what I eat, or rather what I CAN'T eat. It stresses me out too much, which is not good ;-)
That's me, though. How I get a balance in my life I can live with.

This is a good website to help anyone with depression : -
http://www.depressionalliance.org I think that anyone who has suffered since diagnosis comes under the heading of reactive depression as you are reacting to a lifestyle change forced upon you and are probably greiving for what was before diagnosis. This is a charity run site and has many helpful suggestions.
Regards, Catherine.

100nettie said:

I was asked the very same questions at my checkup in December.

I answered yes to both questions.

They noted the answers and carried on. So what was the point of that? They didn't bother trying to resolve the issue or even discuss it. Just noted the answers.

Bizarre!

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probably they get paid extra for doing the survey but not for acting on the results

<sigh>

I've been on antidepressants on and off all my life, really I should have been on them ALL my life. However the corollary is that since getting my BG under control my depression and ADD symptoms are significantly improved on less medication.

Another common factor may be hypothyroid which is associated both with diabetes (both types) and with depression, particularly "treatment-resistant" depression, always worth getting screened for this *and* getting the actual number, some people don't do well unless TSH is around 1 and some authorities refuse to treat until it is in double figures

Diabetes, thyroid and depression, in my humble, non-trained, non-scientific mind are intrinsically linked ... I've suffered depression for many years on and off and at the beginning of 2008 was fiagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for which I remain on medication, however, since becoming diagnosed with diabetes four months ago, my mental state has improved dramatically. Whilst I am unable to come off the medication for my disorder, I no longer have bouts of extreme lowness or mania and put this down to tight blood sugar control. Looking at it this way: My diabetic diagnosis has improved my life in many ways! Not many times you hear somebody say that !! Jem xox

Jem said:

Diabetes, thyroid and depression, in my humble, non-trained, non-scientific mind are intrinsically linked ... I've suffered depression for many years on and off and at the beginning of 2008 was fiagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for which I remain on medication, however, since becoming diagnosed with diabetes four months ago, my mental state has improved dramatically. Whilst I am unable to come off the medication for my disorder, I no longer have bouts of extreme lowness or mania and put this down to tight blood sugar control. Looking at it this way: My diabetic diagnosis has improved my life in many ways! Not many times you hear somebody say that !! Jem xox

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that's not uncommon.

NOT that I'm calling you common, you understand (weldome back!)

if it were possible to do a Bet Lynch impression online I would ... come to think of it, I have some cheetah print leggings upstairs just off to grab a fab and shout from a doorway ...