TAGS
This is a guest post by Beverleigh H Piepers
Depression is a condition of mental disturbance characterized by low, depressed moods and loss of pleasure in the execution of most activities for a period of at least two weeks. It affects the way you feel about yourself, how you think about things, the way you eat, and the way you sleep.
According to the Johns Hopkins Point-of-Care Information Technology Center, depression is a significant mental disorder seen in people with diabetes. It is not clear whether the diabetes itself causes the depression, or vice versa. In fact, 143 million individuals with diabetes worldwide suffer from depression. The rate of depression in diabetics is so high, several leading experts estimate and conclude diabetics are:
twice as likely to have depression compared to anyone without this metabolic problem, and the depression often is more severe and lasts longer than in people without diabetes. In one study discussed by Johns Hopkins POC-IT Center, people with Type 2 diabetes have a 12 to 50 percent higher risk of having depressive symptoms compared to non-diabetics. As well, 30 to 60 percent of people with serious depressive symptoms also have concomitant Type 2 diabetes. Diabetics with depression have a harder time controlling their blood sugar and they have a higher risk for:
macrovascular (complications affecting the large arteries which supply blood to your heart, legs, kidneys and brain, among other parts of the body, and
microvascular (complications which affect the small blood vessels of the body, specifically those in the yes and kidneys, and the nerves).
How depression is accurately diagnosed: Consider seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker if you feel you have developed a depression that won’t go away, or if you exhibit frequent and self-destructive behavior. This behavior could include binge eating, or forgetting to take your medication.
How is depression treated in diabetic patients?
Psychotherapy: The most commonly used psychotherapy treatment for diabetics with depressive symptoms include cognitive behavior therapy and problem-solving therapy. Both these types of treatment are documented to work best in people with diabetes. Interestingly, its been found diabetics who receive cognitive behavior treatment have a significantly lower hemoglobin A1c compared to a control group that showed if they had an improvement in their depression, that had an effect on their blood sugar levels.
Pharmacological therapy: Diabetes suffering from depression can also have the chance to improve with pharmacological therapies. These may include selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors such as sertraline, parocetine and fluoxetine. The most common side effect seen in these drugs include gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, nausea and diarrhea, and central nervous side effects such as nervousness, insomnia, drowsiness, anxiety, headache and tremors. Other effects noted with these drugs include weight loss, improvement in blood sugar levels, and an improvement in insulin sensitivity.
What experts say about depression and diabetes? Depressive disorder can be suspected in people with Type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar level does not significantly improve despite aggressive treatment. People who are depressed are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as:
Making a special effort to lower the level of stress in your life through exercise, meditation, or other means can also help improve depression. Controlling blood sugar can also lead to improvements in depression and anxiety.
To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link… Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions … Beverleigh Piepers RN… the Diabetes Detective.
.
