• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Depression/diabetes

N

NatJS

Well-Known Member
Messages
71
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Diabetes
Has anyone else had their depression more or less spontaneously resolve after getting blood sugar back to roughly normal levels?

About 2 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with fairly severe and crippling depression, specifically very low energy, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, constant tiredness and associated low mood, irritability. I was given some antidepressants and more recently regular group therapy. Part of the therapy involved regular assesment questionnaires, which had me scoring pretty high on their depression scale and the therapist quite concerned.

Then two months ago I was diagnosed with diabetes and within a very short period of starting the LCHF diet (with a few slip ups along the way) my blood sugar came right down and is usually 5.x in the mornings before breakfast.

Anyway, all the while I've been going to the therapy and filling out the little questionnaires, and having followup via telephone. My most recent phone conversation with the therapist was actually to tell me I am being discharged from the local NHS mental health care because my depression score is now so low that it's fallen below their clinical threshold for treatment.

I'm wondering if the symptoms of depression that I've been suffering from might actually be symptoms of the undiagnosed/untreated diabetes - has anyone else had a similar experience? Now that I'm on a low carb diet I've got so much more energy it's kind of unbelievable - it just shows how ill I was before. I used to struggle to get up in the morning, come down to have breakfast and then would almost immediately head straight back to bed, where I had little energy to get up again and would often spend most of the day there. I haven't had this problem since shortly after starting LCHF, although I'm still more tired than I'd ideally like to be.

Of course it may be that the depression has just spontaneously resolved itself, but the timing seems to make it much more than just a coincidence...

Curious to hear about other people's experiences!
 
Well done on tackling your diabetes, whether or not it has helped with overcoming your depression. I cope with depression too.
I have had episodes of depression for over 50 years, according to my online records. Not continuously, but the episodes have got closer and closer together. I decided to stay on antidepressants permanently after the last episode, as I couldn't face another 6-8 weeks for the ads to take effect when I next went into depression.
I haven't had an episode since I was diagnosed T2 and started taking action to lower my bgs. But I can't say whether that is due to lowering my bgs, more exercise, or the antidepressants. Probably all three. But I know the dp might return at some point.
 
Hello @NatJS - when I was fairly early in my diagnosis I experienced a high level of depression, some of this I attributed to my diagnosis but a doctor did advise that running high/low blood glucose levels would also contribute to this. As a result I try to ensure I remain as stable as possible, so as i'm on insulin I bolus 20 mins early to avoid post meal spikes, I also eat low to moderate carbs which means my levels are not so erratic. If you can find a way to control and remain as stable as possible it will help your moods, otherwise speak to your GP :)
 
I have never suffered with depression. At least never been diagnosed with it. My tighter control has certainly changed me, though. I am more alert, more friendly, more optimistic than when my control was poor. It would seem to be reasonable that better control can only help if you're suffering with depression :)
 
Every time I was 'found out' and put onto a 'proper' diet with 'healthy' carbs rather than keeping to Atkins, I was so dismal and could not cope - the time when I was pregnant and got pre-eclampsia trying to follow a diet sheet after being threatened with being taken into hospital and 'fed properly' was particularly bad. I am sure that there is a correlation between mental health and problems with glucose control in my case.
 
NatJS said:
Has anyone else had their depression more or less spontaneously resolve after getting blood sugar back to roughly normal levels?
Click to expand...

That's absolutely brilliant, very good news. I have been known to chase the black dog now and again, especially recently. No surprises that it coincides with higher BG because as I don't give my body enough carbs (40gms per day) my body is quite happy to convert protein to glucose. Even adding Januvia (Sitagliptin) to my arsenal of meds hasn't kicked in after 2 weeks and it's getting me very down, fatigued, not wanting to socialise or travel too far from home. I'm hoping to get through this bout and I know that it's something that I've lived with since I was a teenager, it comes and goes.
 
NatJS said:
Has anyone else had their depression more or less spontaneously resolve after getting blood sugar back to roughly normal levels?

About 2 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with fairly severe and crippling depression, specifically very low energy, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, constant tiredness and associated low mood, irritability. I was given some antidepressants and more recently regular group therapy. Part of the therapy involved regular assessment questionnaires, which had me scoring pretty high on their depression scale and the therapist quite concerned.

Then two months ago I was diagnosed with diabetes and within a very short period of starting the LCHF diet (with a few slip ups along the way) my blood sugar came right down and is usually 5.x in the mornings before breakfast.

Anyway, all the while I've been going to the therapy and filling out the little questionnaires, and having followup via telephone. My most recent phone conversation with the therapist was actually to tell me I am being discharged from the local NHS mental health care because my depression score is now so low that it's fallen below their clinical threshold for treatment.

I'm wondering if the symptoms of depression that I've been suffering from might actually be symptoms of the undiagnosed/untreated diabetes - has anyone else had a similar experience? Now that I'm on a low carb diet I've got so much more energy it's kind of unbelievable - it just shows how ill I was before. I used to struggle to get up in the morning, come down to have breakfast and then would almost immediately head straight back to bed, where I had little energy to get up again and would often spend most of the day there. I haven't had this problem since shortly after starting LCHF, although I'm still more tired than I'd ideally like to be.

Of course it may be that the depression has just spontaneously resolved itself, but the timing seems to make it much more than just a coincidence...

Curious to hear about other people's experiences!
Click to expand...

Hi NatJS
If you replace 'severe and crippling depression' with 'severe and crippling migraines' the rest of your pre-diagnosis description fits how I was feeling. When I was able to do things I felt in a fog, and I was having difficulty keeping awake if I sat down. I saw 4 different doctors over 3 years. Doctors kept insisting I was simply a migraine sufferer and wanted to ply me with strong drugs - I had a very scary reaction to one, so I refused after that. No-one did any blood tests on me. Doctor no 4 said don't worry I'm sure you don't have a brain tumour, take aspirin. 3 weeks later I saw doctor no 5 in tears and insisted they did a full set of bloods on me - I'd had no tests done for 14 or so years since I had gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy. Doctor rang me at 9pm that night - said I had to come in first thing - my blood glucose was ridiculously high! Was given tablets (a guestimate dosage) - withing 36 hours I felt normal! My energy levels returned, I could think! I could follow DIY instructions without passing them on to my kids - before it had got so bad that I could read but not process the meaning ie focus and concentration and putting it all together was really difficult. So yes I often felt low before diagnosis - but tried to be as possitive as I could for my kids. I think it would have been very different if I didn't have that responsibility and I lived alone (ie had to force myself do stuff for them), I might have got very depressed. So yes I get where you are coming from. Glad things are moving in a positive direction now. Take Care :)
 
jackieb63 said:
Hi NatJS
If you replace 'severe and crippling depression' with 'severe and crippling migraines' the rest of your pre-diagnosis description fits how I was feeling. When I was able to do things I felt in a fog, and I was having difficulty keeping awake if I sat down. I saw 4 different doctors over 3 years. Doctors kept insisting I was simply a migraine sufferer and wanted to ply me with strong drugs - I had a very scary reaction to one, so I refused after that. No-one did any blood tests on me. Doctor no 4 said don't worry I'm sure you don't have a brain tumour, take aspirin. 3 weeks later I saw doctor no 5 in tears and insisted they did a full set of bloods on me - I'd had no tests done for 14 or so years since I had gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy. Doctor rang me at 9pm that night - said I had to come in first thing - my blood glucose was ridiculously high! Was given tablets (a guestimate dosage) - withing 36 hours I felt normal! My energy levels returned, I could think! I could follow DIY instructions without passing them on to my kids - before it had got so bad that I could read but not process the meaning ie focus and concentration and putting it all together was really difficult. So yes I often felt low before diagnosis - but tried to be as possitive as I could for my kids. I think it would have been very different if I didn't have that responsibility and I lived alone (ie had to force myself do stuff for them), I might have got very depressed. So yes I get where you are coming from. Glad things are moving in a positive direction now. Take Care :)
Click to expand...
Also feeling like rubbish 'isn't good for your self-esteem so when you start to feel physically better (ie your biology/body chemistry is working better and more in balance) it should help you to feel psychologically better and more sociable as everything is linked - nothing is in isolation :)
 
NatJS said:
Has anyone else had their depression more or less spontaneously resolve after getting blood sugar back to roughly normal levels?

About 2 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with fairly severe and crippling depression, specifically very low energy, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, constant tiredness and associated low mood, irritability. I was given some antidepressants and more recently regular group therapy. Part of the therapy involved regular assesment questionnaires, which had me scoring pretty high on their depression scale and the therapist quite concerned.

Then two months ago I was diagnosed with diabetes and within a very short period of starting the LCHF diet (with a few slip ups along the way) my blood sugar came right down and is usually 5.x in the mornings before breakfast.

Anyway, all the while I've been going to the therapy and filling out the little questionnaires, and having followup via telephone. My most recent phone conversation with the therapist was actually to tell me I am being discharged from the local NHS mental health care because my depression score is now so low that it's fallen below their clinical threshold for treatment.

I'm wondering if the symptoms of depression that I've been suffering from might actually be symptoms of the undiagnosed/untreated diabetes - has anyone else had a similar experience? Now that I'm on a low carb diet I've got so much more energy it's kind of unbelievable - it just shows how ill I was before. I used to struggle to get up in the morning, come down to have breakfast and then would almost immediately head straight back to bed, where I had little energy to get up again and would often spend most of the day there. I haven't had this problem since shortly after starting LCHF, although I'm still more tired than I'd ideally like to be.

Of course it may be that the depression has just spontaneously resolved itself, but the timing seems to make it much more than just a coincidence...

Curious to hear about other people's experiences!
Click to expand...
 
I have been a T1 for 45 years and over that time I suffer from mood changes like a mental withdrawal and a feeling of self doubt and lack of self confidence. This I assume is was depression and I contacted my GP who prescribed anti depressants but I found having to repeatable taking these had little effect so have stopped.
I have now discovered that moving to a lower card diet has improved my sense of well being although there are still periods of feeling down.
In conclusion I think that as with all things regarding being a T1 good glucose control can only be a positive both physically and mentally - (sounds obvious I know)!
 
@NatJS - An astonishing number of people presenting with diabetes also have mental health issues, of one sort or another. The figure I recall is something like 30% (but haven't tried checking out my memory!), which makes me wonder sometimes, which is the chicken and which the egg for at least a proportion of that 30%.

Keep up the good work, it sounds like you've had a bonus big win with your health.
 
I suspect that one condition feeds off the other. Prolonged/s stress causes many various changes in the body's chemistry associated with the fight/flight reaction; it probably contributes to T2 development.The subsequent diagnosis compounds the stress and depression and a downward spiral occurs. Sad to say that's what I think happened to me.
 
Low fat high carb diets would always kick depression into play for me within three to six months of starting them ... I always assumed it was the low fat that led to the issue but now suspect it was probably the BG due to the carbs. Then the depression made it harder to stick to the diet which then makes you more depressed with not losing weight ... Vicious circle
 
Back
Top