Two recent studies in the journal Diabetes Care analyzed the relationship between diabetes and depressionThe first, in the journal's March issue, found the rate of clinically significant depression among those with diabetes (type 1 or type 2) was high, at least 25%. For a loose comparison, The National Institue of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that mood disorders affect about 9.5% of the US population age 18 and older in a given year.
The second, in the jounal's April issue, found a relationship between depression and A1C*, although it also found that depression could not predict changes to A1C levels. The authors suggested that depression could impact other measures besides A1C, and urged further study.
The NIMH advises that anyone who experiences 5 or more of the following symptoms every day for at least 2 weeks seek an evaluation for depression:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
- Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
- Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight changes
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
- Restlessness, irritability
* HbA1C or just A1C is an abbreviation for glycosylated hemoglobin, blood levels of which can identify average glucose levels for an individual over approximately 120 days, the life span of a red blood cell.
For the March article:
Depression Treatment and Satisfaction in a Multicultural Sample of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetic Patients
For a summary of the March article:
Depression Rate High Among People with Diabetes
For the April article:
Depression and Glycemic Control in Elderly Ethnically Diverse Patients With Diabetes
For the NIMH's fact sheet on diabetes and depression:
Depression and Diabetes
