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Diabetes and depression

pshawfocus

pshawfocus

Active Member
Messages
26
Location
Croydon, South London, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Intro - I'm a very well controlled type 1 (30+ years). I have, at various stages of my adult life, suffered from depression and anxiety. On the face of it, the causes of which have not been connected with the pressures and adjustments of living with diabetes but rather work and bullying, plus my mother and her father also suffered so there is likely a hereditary element too.

I've periodically read that diabetics are susceptible to mental health issues but am curious, is this simply a side effect of the diabetes itself, or because of the pressures and adjustments I mentioned above?
 
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 ;)
 
Re exercise and walking, personally I find that cycling is a great mood lifter. I have a Brompton which means I can squeeze in a good, endorphin boosting thrashing, even during the busiest days.
 
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.
 
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