Is Diabetes linked with depression?

[buzzborne]

I know some other people on this board have written about having depression, but being diabetic does that give you more risk of becoming depressed?

Over the past few months, (or even longer) I have had the feeling of ''being down in the dumps,'' one minute i am happy as larry and then the next I dont want to see or speak to anyone, not even my parents, who then get all frustrated and angry and start having a go at me, which then gets me worked up and teary and it just seems a vicious (sp?) circle, does this mean that I could be depressed?

I know there a tablets and things that you can take to help you, but I'm kind of reluctent to take things like that, as my sister was once described anti-depressants and they made her feel worse...

Sorry for such a ''down'' thread...

Sarah

[Ashtur]

Yes it does, there is a definite link between diabetes and Depression, though to my knowledge it's unclear if the reason is that it increases the risk of chemical imbalances, or if it simply is the stress and difficultiy of dealing with this disease that can be wearing, and yes, depressing.

My suspicion is the latter, and I've always suspected that medication is less helpful for those whose problem is the difficulties of life.

[HeatherP]

I don't know if there's an actual proveable link, but it certainly seems to me that having Diabetes can make one depressed if you know what I mean. I've had depression since I was quite young, and for many years before I developed Diabetes. I've been on meds since I was 15. I've actually done quite well over the years except for this week I bottomed out pretty bad.

It might be something chemical, or just a passing thing, but I would definitely suggest you seek some professional help because it can get out of hand, and there are so many treatments available now. There's no reason to suffer alone. Talk to someone about it.

[gettingby]

Sarah,
I am so sorry that you are feeling this way. Sometimes I get the "blahs" where I don't want anyone to speak to me or even breathe the same air I do (LOL). Hopefully this will pass for you. If it doesn't, I'm with HeatherP. Talk to someone and keep us updated on how you are. We are all concerned about you.
Cin:)

[sparkle9]

I think that living with diabetes 24/7 can sometimes be so overwhelming that it can cause or at least contribute to depression. I know it has for me, especially during times when I have struggled with bs control.

I have several family members and friends who have been on various meds for depression. Most of them have been helped. Some of them have said that they have had to try several different ones before they found one that worked.

I would definitely talk to your doctor about how you're feeling and I hope you feel better soon.

Sparkle

[Willow]

Hi Sarah

Since I read up about other members' diabetes & depression I have also thought about this. I know I certainly feel more down in the week before my period so I think my hormones could have something to do with it then. And I think I feel down about certain things more than others, for instance I feel very down & stressed about work.

Keep us posted how you are.

x

[LauRa Lu]

I haven't lived at home now for nearly four years. But when I did I felt similar to you. The trouble with depression or anything similar is that it usually gets taken out on those closest to us.

My parents would get annoyed with me and I'd get annoyed back mainly because they were unaware of how I was feeling. It's hard to explain really... i supose depression can be hard to explian because you never know if it's depression or just mood swings.

Now that I don't live at home I can keep certain things from my parents... so If i'm down they dont need to know and everyones happier for it :) But looking back to when i did live with them... to be honest i just wish i could have sat down and talked it through. I'd have said how I was feeling and I know they'd of been good about it and understood a little more.

My mum was recently talking about my brother, saying how she leaves him alone sometimes because he gets depressed and theres not much else she can do .... she then said " at least you dont get like that, at least your ok" I couldn't beleive that she didnt realise i ever got depressed quite badly... I went thru alot before becoming diabetic and I couldn't belive she never realised!!! I hide it well I guess. It was odd tho because I almost told her everything, but couldn't. probably best she doesn't need to know now really. But if she'd have known from the start it would have been so great.

For me since being diagnosed it's made me slightly less depressed... It makes me feel like I need to be more possitive really.


AHH! long post...sorry!! :whistling

Basically I think you should talk it through with someone... if not your parents then someone... it's easier when some one knows. :)

[buzzborne]

Thank you for all your replies. I had a susspision that it could be linked, but was wondering why it is just surfacing now when I have been diabetic coming on for 7.5 yrs.

I know that I need to speak to someone about it, I Have tried talking to my mum, but in the end just change the conversation onto something else as I really don't like to talk about things with people, which then makes me think will I actually be able to talk it through with someone that I don't know? I know my mum thinks that there is something up, but when ever she asks if I am ok I just shrug her off, which is probably not the best thing to do.

I don't know whether its living at home, diabetes or what, quite a few things have happened that could have set this feeling off, so I can't pin-point what it is, maybe just a mixture of everything.

I have got a Dr's appt nxt wk (well actually for diabetic clinic) so will try and bring up the subject then

Thank you for listening, I just prefer writnig things down rather than talking them through.

Sarah

[lgvincent]

I thought insulin is a depressant drug. If so, is it possible it contributes to depression?

[rzrbks]

OI, Sarah,

Just googled Diabetes + Depression,
got 2,220,000 hits.

I do believe this proves there Just Might be a connection;)

[Lorna]

I think all the addtional things we need to worry about are what makes us more prone to depression.

[buzzborne]

Originally posted by rzrbks
OI, Sarah,

Just googled Diabetes + Depression,
got 2,220,000 hits.

I do believe this proves there Just Might be a connection;)

Thanks Rzr :)

lg, I have also heard that insulin is a depressant drug, not sure if it contributes or not.

[Shalyndria]

Any chronic condition, I would imagine, is linked with depression. Everyday stresses are relatively easy for the body to adjust to, but great stress would disrupt the adjustment mechanism.

There's also a correlation between Seratonin (which is the "happy" neurotransmitter - it calms anxiety and relieves depression) and metabolic disorders. Food such as turkey has been shown in research to contain a protein that helps create chemical seratonin, and complex carbs raise the level of tryptophan in the brain (tryptophan is an amino acid that is used in the chemical creation of Seratonin). A person with a metabolic disorder (as is often seen in Thyroid diseases) is statistically more prone to depression, as the creation of Seratonin in the brain is stunted. It would follow that Diabetes and conditions such as Hypothyroidism and Alcoholism would make a person more vulnerable to depression.

Of course, depression is also linked to a sedentary life (exercise releases endorphins, which help with depression, anxiety, and sexual function) poor eating habits, and heredity.

However, none of this means that just because one has a chronic disease, they are destined to have a depressive condition.

Shy