Diabetes and depression

Hi @marc1986 ,

I've had a few ups & downs over the years.. I'm married too. Though don't claim to be an expert..
What I have done. & do. Is talk. To her.. Wild blood levels affect things, so an understanding of this helps ease any tension regarding any contrary out of sync moods..

There is loads of advice on controlling/managing diabetes on this forum. & no doubt there will be more wise words from others with a similar experience.

Your post is the start of an uphill climb. The lowest point is no doubt over.

Wishing you all the best!

Actually there is a strong association between diabetes and depression and it isn't clear at all whether people with diabetes have " reactive" depression - that is, we get depression because struggling with diabetes is just plain downright upsetting sometimes, or because depression is actually PART OF the diabetes, that is, there is something wrong with insulin receptors which affects our mood and that is the physiological (not psychological) cause of our depression. So, whatever, or whichever, your endocrinologist and your diabetes nurse is no doubt aware of your propensity for depression so you should not be embarrassed to tell him/her and ask for some treatment - whatever is necessary. I would recommend your GP, but not all GPs are well aware of this stuff. In fact, depression could be simply seen as a complication of diabetes. In my case, I do find that exercise helps. Just regular walking. The occasional ten-minute burst on the exercise bike, ten to twenty minutes with weights at home. It all helps. The theory is that diabetes complications, including depression are associated with inflammation. Exercise helps to reduce inflammation so more or less helps everything. Of course,a good chat and a bit of company puts you in a better mood and makes you more likely to look after yourself, eat properly exercise etc. but if you are quarreling with your wife, maybe a quick run might help?

Incidentally, I've been diabetic since the age of 5 too. And I never got any diabetes education because by the time I was adult, the medics seemed to assume (wrongly) that I must know all that stuff. Have you had the DAFNE course or whatever it is round your way?

And I finally got a pump. And while it has been a bit of a stressor to learn how to use it, it is much better than constantly trying and failing like before. That can't be helping your mood if that's what's happening to you.

Hey as said above talking is good therapy, a problem shared etc.. I have found meditation and low carbing helped me, my moods were affected by the constant yo yoing of trying to eat a 'normal' diet and bg going up and down all the time, I've found that the more stable I keep my bg the better my moods. Also when things are really getting you down go for a walk, take deep breaths and try to think about appreciating the little things. Feeling low is temporary it will get better

@marc1986, have you sought help from your Dr or diabetes care team about your depression, if not then I would recommend you do so as there is help available but you need to make them aware that a problem exists. There's a good article on the community pages of DCUK about diabetes and depression that you may want to take a look at:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-and-depression.html

Hi. I know it's not the same thing, but I've got stress / anxiety. And it's a vicious cycle. Stress outs blood sugar up, high blood sugar puts stress up etc.

I spoke to my doctor and she helped a lot. I also try low carbing and it's helped me manage my D much more easily and focus on chilling out more

Depression is different I know, but I think you should speak to ur doctor too

Hi Marc, we have very striking parallels. I'm 27 (28 next month), and have also had type 1 for 24 years. And I'm married too. I found that I was hiding my problems with my diabetes from my wife, and being withdrawn from her. This went on for years. I thought I was protecting her when actually I was just making her constantly stressed and worried.
When I learned that it was ok to struggle, I started to involve her, and now things are so much easier. Remember, you're a team. Your wife will want to help you. It takes a big person to do that, but an equally big person to let them help. I have gone into detail about my entire life with diabetes on my blog. Feel free to have a read, there might be some answers there for you.
Regarding your depression, you absolutely have to realise that it's nothing you need to hide. I think that people suffering from depression can sometimes feel like it's their fault when nothing could be farther from the truth. In the first instance talk to your friends and family, but don't be afraid to seek professional help. Well done for posting here, that's a big step. Take one day at a time, get support and you can come out the others side stronger for it. Best of luck, and keep posting.

Hi Marc 1986.
I've been diagnosed as severely depressed not just based on my diabetes but also with my wife leaving me.
I fully sympathise with you.
I don't have anyone to lean on or confide in anymore I just have my two daughters who've with me but it unfair on them to worry about me all the time.
I'm in reasonably good shape and workout regularly but my eyes have deteriorated and I constantly worry.
This sounds bad but I have contemplated ending things as I don't see a great future. I know people would be angry with that comment but it's how I feel. My daughters are the only reason to keep going.
Diabetes although manageable is a cruel disease and I know the problems too well as my dad died last year of diabetic related heart disease.
I feel very alone and with diabetes it's even more so.

Hi i might seem young but i had a few years of Anxiety and Depression due to the diagnoses of my Diabetes 4 years ago and other things on top of that and at some points it really got to me especially the final year of school and exams it was way out of control at that point but i managed it only just but it was a very difficult time, i spent so much time thinking how to make life perfect including my Diabetes but one very big lesson i learnt from all this that actually to be happy with life not everything has to be perfect like for example with Diabetes to be a well controlled Diabetic not every blood sugar had to be perfect and every time it was high or low i would get so angry at myself for it, Depression is an illness it alters the way you think as well as Anxiety, And well done for speaking out this is what this discussions are for it feels so much better getting it all out. Just don't let it get to you.