If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing depression. And if you are depressed, you may have a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes. You may be wondering if diabetes can cause depression or make you feel depressed. Although the condition does not directly cause depression, the nature of diabetes may be a factor in its development. It is a very difficult condition to treat, since it is always present, and it can be exhausting.
Depression has been linked to the further development of type 2 diabetes, although the relative risk estimate is small. Only 20% of diabetes cases can be attributed to depression in people with both conditions. More research is needed to determine the possible causal mechanisms of the association and to determine whether depression and diabetes may have a common etiology. The objectives of this study were to identify studies of the association between depression and type 2 diabetes and to quantify the strength of the association to assess the impact on occupational health practice. Using the risk estimate of 1.25, in people with depression and diabetes, 20% of diabetes cases could be attributed to a depressive illness.
Once depressive symptoms occur or a diagnosis of depression is made, symptoms appear to be persistent. However, depression was not more common among people with and without prevalent type 2 diabetes, but not previously diagnosed. The purpose of this review was to show the links between depression and diabetes, to point out the importance of identifying depression in diabetic patients and to identify possible ways to address both diseases. Of the 65,381 women aged 50 to 75 in 1996 who participated in the study, 2,844 women were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 7,415 women developed depression in the following 10 years. Most of these studies were based on self-reported measures to identify depressive symptoms or depression and diabetes.
These data contrast with general population studies that suggest that a depressive episode usually lasts 8 to 12 weeks, suggesting that in people with diabetes depressive episodes are longer lasting and more likely to recur. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) occurs in infancy and early adulthood and requires daily insulin injections for life, while type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) appears later in mid-adulthood, requiring changes in diet and lifestyle, oral medication or injections of insulin. In total, the present study shows a longitudinal association between depression and the incidence of T2DM in subjects under 50 years of age and adds evidence that depression is related to the incidence of T2DM. Studies were required to include assessing major depressive disorder or increasing depression score on a validated scale at or before diabetes status assessment. The limitations of this study are the design of the study with a retrospective evaluation of depression, as well as a single assessment of current depression. We excluded studies that presented an inadequate description of the method of evaluation of depression or that had type 1 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance or death as a result.
These types of systematic deficiencies within health systems can significantly contribute to the worst health outcomes seen in people with comorbid diabetes and depression. Initially, the unadjusted OR and the 95% CI of the association between depression and new-onset diabetes were estimated by simple logistic regression, with the status of the case-control subject as a dependent variable and a history of previous depressive episodes as the main independent variable. Assuming that there is a true association between depression and the subsequent development of type 2 diabetes, there are several possible explanations for this finding. It is important for healthcare professionals to recognize signs and symptoms associated with both conditions so that they can provide appropriate treatment for their patients. Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce long-term complications associated with both conditions. In conclusion, depression is associated with an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
However, this risk is relatively small compared to other factors such as age, family history, lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity levels. It is important for healthcare professionals to recognize signs and symptoms associated with both conditions so that they can provide appropriate treatment for their patients.
