Management of type 1 or type 2 diabetes might be a challenging task because of setbacks that come along the way. A continuous vigilance is needed in managing the raised blood glucose levels, navigating the healthcare services, side effects from drugs, as well as other associated health conditions that may give rise to an increased risk of mental health or depression. When left unmanaged, depression may bring about poor lifestyle choices that might deteriorate a person’s physical health as well.
If a person has diabetes, or someone close does, it’s all the more important to be familiar with the risk of developing depression. Studies have found that both the conditions occur twice as recurrently as a person would predict depending upon the chance. This means that diabetes and depression impact each other in some or the other way.
- The association between type 2 diabetes and depression is two-way, signifying that each may put an individual at risk for the other.
- If an individual suffers from depression, he or she is at a greater risk of living an inactive lifestyle and consuming foods that are sugary or fatty, which may again give rise to type 2 diabetes.
If patients already have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the exhaustion that may accompany managing the illness might bring about depression. In the meantime, individuals having type 1 diabetes, which occurs not because of diet or lifestyle factors, but rather due to failure of the pancreas to manufacture insulin, might also be extremely challenging to manage, putting the patient at risk for developing depressive signs. After the development of depressive signs, it might become gradually problematic to manage diabetes as well as may produce certain physical complications as well as reduced life expectancy. Also read: How to Stimulate Your Pancreas to Produce Insulin?
If a person is unsure whether he or she is suffering from depression, a person can look for these signs:
- Depressed mood or irritability
- Feelings of guilt or hopelessness
- Sleep disturbances
- Trouble concentrating
- Lack of interest in activities
- Lack of energy
- Changes in appetite
- Suicidal thoughts
Risk Factors Related to Diabetes and Depression
A large number of environmental factors have been found to affect the risk of developing both conditions. These may be:
- Lower physical activity
- Poverty
- Poor social environments
- Maternal stress before birth
- Childhood adversity
It is unknown whether the consumption of antidepressant drugs puts an individual at risk for diabetes, but associations have been observed between the two. If a person consumes antidepressants or is considering them, it is a must to discuss with a concerned doctor regarding the risks of weight changes as well as hypo- and hyperglycemic effects that may put a person at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Studies have also found that individuals with type 2 diabetes who utilize insulin are at a greater risk for developing depression in comparison to individuals consuming non-insulin drugs or only adjusting their diet or lifestyle habits. This is due to the reason that these individuals may experience added stress in managing diabetes as well as using health care services. A diabetic patient must be sure of telling his or her doctor if he or she starts noticing that they are losing interest in things or he or she is experiencing feelings of desperateness or a lower mood.
Treatment alternatives
Common depression treatments can be cognitive behavioral therapy, which aids individuals in correcting their detrimental thought patterns as well as behaviors that may enhance depressive signs. Also, interventions such as motivational interviewing, interpersonal discussions, as well as structured problem solving can be helpful. Medication may also help with lifting mood and managing symptoms.
Treatment alternatives for diabetes along with standard medical care can involve behavioral self-management programs that assist individuals in increasing their healthy habits and improving regulation over their blood glucose levels. Both depression and diabetes help in improving the focus on lifestyle modifications like diet changes as well as regular exercise.
If a person is still unsure about where to start, it is a must to discuss with the concerned doctor about the family’s medical and psychiatric conditions as well as their own concerns. Get involved with good diabetes educators in relation to healthy habits that help in reducing the risk of depression. Don’t waver to ask for a referral to a psychologist or a counselor in that particular area. If a person is suffering from depression and is worried about developing diabetes, discuss with a doctor about structuring a joint team is a must. It is important to tackle the risk factors and how antidepressant drugs could potentially affect a person’s physical health including weight or blood glucose levels. You can also consult with Breathe Well-being’s best diabetes educator online in just INR 99. To know more visit: https://www.breathewellbeing.in
With the appropriate tools and the team, individuals suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes can live physically and mentally healthy lives, as can those having depression. Today must be considered as it is you who can develop and inculcate healthy lifestyle habits within yourself and help improve your mind and body.
