Diabetes and depression in combination is dangerous
The increased risk of diabetics to suffer from depression and the negative impact of the presence of both diseases are well documented by studies. These add up not only, they will multiply: Compared with diabetic patients without depression suffer depressive diabetic eleven times more common among complications of the small blood vessels. The risk of damage to the great vessels, which can lead to circulation problems or heart attack is increased by the 2,5 times.
Any chronic illness can increase the risk of depression or depressive moods. The negative consequences are particularly high in diabetes: Successful treatment of diabetes requires the active cooperation of the patient. "Depression represents a major barrier here, as it makes both the motivation for treatment and the implementation of therapeutic measures more difficult," emphasizes co-author PD Dr. Bernhard Kulzer, Chairman of the Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Working Group of the German Diabetes Society (DDG) and Managing Director of the Research Institute of the Diabetes Academy Bad Mergentheim (FIDAM), in a current publication. This increases the risk of late complications of diabetes such as loss of eyesight, foot amputation or dialysis. The fluctuations in blood sugar that occur in many diabetics also stress those affected emotionally.
Conversely, people with depression have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that depression increases the risk factors of obesity and lack of exercise. In addition, the mental illness itself is an independent risk factor: Depressive disorders can be accompanied by a stress-related increase in cortisol levels in the blood. This hormone promotes what is known as insulin resistance, which means that the body's own insulin is present, but does not lead to sufficient levels of sugar being incorporated into the body's cells from the blood.
diabetesDE and DDG therefore demand that people with depression be specifically screened for type 2 diabetes. Affected diabetics also need psychological support, especially at the beginning of the illness and when late complications arise for the first time. Refraining from psychological care not only worsens the quality of life and lifespan of diabetics. Lack of intervention is also likely to make the disease more expensive. US studies show that the costs of treating depressed diabetes patients are many times higher than those of diabetics without depression.
Source:
B. Kulzer, N. Hermanns, J. Kruse Diabetes and Depression - Risks and Interrelationships Diabetologist 2010; 6: 255-265 DOI 10.1007 / s11428-009-0531-9
Source: Berlin [DDG]
