|
Can Diabetes Cause Depression? |
In the general population, the lifetime risk of depression is 10-25% for women and 5-12% for men. However, 25-33% or persons with diabetes suffer from depression. Depression is much more severe than ordinary sadness. It usually lasts longer (more than two weeks at a time) and the feelings of despair, helplessness, hopelessness and numbness are more intense. The symptoms of depression can vary widely from person to person and can include:
 |
Weight change- more that 5% plus or minus in a month |
|
Sleeping disorder- either too much or too little |
|
Activity level- either restless or sluggish nearly every day |
|
Fatigue- almost no energy |
|
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt |
|
Inability to concentrate or make decisions |
|
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide |
Since depression is a biologically based disorder, diabetes may trigger depression. Certainly feeling sad and overwhelmed by diabetes is part of living with the disease, but if these feelings last more than two weeks, it might be depression. Talk with someone, tell your doctor!
There is Good News about depression.
Treatment Works! Treatment options include counseling, support groups, medications, light therapy (for winter depression) and diet and exercise plans. Newer medicines (called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs) are less likely to interact with other medications that you may take. It is still wise when discussing any additional medications with a provider to take a list of all your medicines and include vitamins, supplements and over the counter medications. Depression can almost always be cured. And once the depression is gone, the diabetes should be easier to manage! For questions about depression or other mental illness, call the National Alliance for Mentally Ill (NAMI) at 800-950-6264.
