Diabetes and depression

According to NICE, people who are diagnosed with a chronic physical health problem such as diabetes are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than people without it.

The above is taken from the following article:

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

To answer your question, I would say given that diabetes is condition that lives with you 24/7 and as yet there's no cure it's got to take its toll on our mental well-being, but it's worth remembering that depression is sadly quite a common condition nowadays and can effect anyone in all walks of life.

Hi there, I think there are a few factors in play here. I once asked my doctor about this after suffering from depression he simply said that it's due to fluctuating blood glucose levels. So the pattern of running high/low on an ongoing basis can impact mental health. I found by keeping to a low carb diet that I don't seem to suffer so much, as it is maintaining BG stability, I also believe that the constant monitoring and administration of insulin can also impact mental health, so it's a combination of both these that can cause a mental strain. Learning strategies for coping better are important to good management, I personally exercise and walk a lot, which helps keep me sane

Last year my 10 year relationship ended and my depression resurfaced. I tried to take my own life and my diabetes just wasn't a priority to me. I spoke to my diabetes nurse who was very sympathetic. She told me basically I do need to keep myself in check, even if I do just 1 BG check a day I should be pleased. Now I'm in a much better place and she has realised that so now changes can be made, like me going on a basal/bolus regime and doing the DAFNE course.

@pshawfocus I have cyclothymia which means I go through depressive episodes from time to time. I think that depression did contribute to my diabetes diagnosis in that I was in depression last year and was comfort eating, especially sweet stuff, and going to the pub most evenings and self medicating with 3-4 pints of beer, and eating pub meals always with chips.
And the depression meant I didn't take any notice of being told the previous year that I was in danger of becoming diabetic. If I had been in a better state of mind I might have looked into what being pre-diabetic meant. But the depression overwhelms everything else.

EPA/DHA omega-3 deficiency causes depression big time. Read the book The Ultra Mind Solution by Dr Mark Hyman. He also has one of the best books on type 2 diabetes.

It's a bit chicken and the egg I think.
I have depression and borderline personality disorder. I have comfort eaten a lot in the past and I often lack the capacity or motivation to look forward and see consequences.
I think this all definately contributed to my developing type 2.