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

Type 2 Diabetes and Depression

Fortissimo said:
Good morning, i was wondering if anyone else suffers with depression as a result of their diabetes? Im type 2 and have been for just about five years.
Click to expand...
I suffer anxiety and depression,but not sure if it’s a result of diabetes or not…iv been type 2 since 2012 but recently put on insulin after having cod
 
I've had depressive episodes in the past. I had them long before diabetes, so they were not a result of diabetes.

I'd guess there are three things possibly going on - people being depressed prior to developing diabetes (like me); becoming depressed as a direct result of raised blood glucose and other symptoms etc, or people becoming depressed by having one or more complex long-term conditions and the changes in lifestyle, medication etc that result.
 
I’ve been diagnosed with depression since I was around 18 (28 now) I do believe my diabetes was a contributing factor as I was struggling with it at the time. I also have epilepsy which I think probably doesn’t help my case much either.

This is an interesting read though and does suggest we are more likely to be diagnosed with depression if we have diabetes - https://www.diabetes.org.uk/living-with-diabetes/emotional-wellbeing/depression
 
Fortissimo said:
Good morning, i was wondering if anyone else suffers with depression as a result of their diabetes? Im type 2 and have been for just about five years.
Click to expand...
It's not been "as a result of", as I've always struggled with depression. But I did find the diagnosis rough, it made a bad thing worse, for a while. And then, I found out that wildly fluctuating blood glucose and long-term high blood sugars impacted my mood a lot. And I do mean, a LOT. Getting bloods under control helped with the depression some.

So what it is about T2 that made the depression come up for you? Maybe examine that a little? A lot of people fall in the self-blame hole, when it's mostly a matter of genetics and environs. If i eat the way my husband does, I'd be high all the time, yet he's a very slim, tall bloke. No T2 in his family though, contrary to mine: I was genetically blessed, and had PCOS, which was responsible for my insulin issues... I was pretty much doomed from the start, basically. And knowing that, meant letting go of the anger towards myself on that issue, at least. I didn't eat myself into diabetes knowingly nor willingly. If it's a matter of a shock at the diagnosis and having to live with a life-altering condition long term, there are places like, well, this one really, where you can find people who've been where you're at, if that is the case. Maybe a little coping therapy as well? Could help. Have things happened due to the T2 that impacted your quality of life? Just a bunch of examples of things... You know?

Depression can come up for a multitude of reasons, and not all of them are constructive.... Or rather, they're usually not constructive at all. Can you put your finger on what is troubling you? Maybe there are topics we can help with.

I spent this morning kicking myself around for misunderstanding something. I still do that. I also have some coping mechanisms and insights I didn't have before last year's therapy, so while I'm a bit miffed at myself for "being an idiot", I haven't gone straight to the "I shouldn't be here anymore" thoughts. That's an improvement I can't even begin to explain. I don't know how deep your depression goes, but... Whatever the cause, whatever the reason, there are ways to cope, and people who can help you with that. Professionals, or just people who've lived through something similar... The main thing right now is that you've started talking about it. Give it more air. It tends to reduce things that are too heavy to lift, otherwise.

Anyway, hugs, and I hope this is the start of you feeling better! (It's a process, but all processes have a beginning!)
Jo
 
I was told everyone has a 'worry well'. When it gets full there's no more room for anything else, and so either anxiety or depression take over. The only solution is to empty the well. Easier said than done when you have a multitude of problems snapping at your heels. Having to watch what you eat, monitoring blood sugar levels, taking medication, wild readings that come from nowhere, can all be contributing factors.

I was taught mindfulness and meditation. If you search for it the NHS has a page just for that with lots of information and helpful links.
 
I've had depression at various times over the last 45 years but t2 was only diagnosed 5 years ago, so don't think t2 causes depression. Depression may be a contributing factor to t2 if it causes weight gain from comfort eating, perhaps?
I have felt more in control and happier since taking charge of lowering my bg, and I think ive heard, but can't confirm, that lowering bg improves brain function/mood. Maybe correct or not, but with a try?
 
@Fortissimo I was deeply depressed after diagnosis, but I can only put it down to the medication 5 weeks of Metformin and Atorvastatin and I was in dire trouble . I was considering suicide on more than one occasion.
Fortunately it was just before Christmas 2016, and I remembered how the death of my grandmother at that time of year affected the family for a long time.
I had faced far more concerning things than a diagnosis before then - but I really was not thinking logically.
Once I tossed the tablets in the bin things began to get back to normal. It did take some years to fully recover to my insufferably chipper self and relearn all I needed to remember - if anything is still lost, it is gone and I live with that knowledge. The advice not to discontinue medication without consent from a HCP might seem reasonable, but when the alternative is to discontinue life itself there really is no dilemma.
 
Back
Top