[shabbie]

i only needed to go onto citalopram back in october 2007, exactly one year after starting insulin therapy.

ive recently tried to wean myself off them unsuccessfully and now take the original dose again.

i'm not a depressed type of personality usually so i wondered, is it possible that its the insulin (novorapid) thats causing it?

if so is apidra any better? i cant see the same list of side effects that novorapid has.

any comments/links/useful info are all welcome please

[morrisma]

I've never heard of any connection, even anecdotal but insulin's a hormone and people react very differently to them even at different times of the monthly cycles. Also, mild depression can be masked and unrecognized as such. Lets see what other forum members come up with.
Mike

[SueM]

Originally Posted by shabbie

i only needed to go onto citalopram back in october 2007, exactly one year after starting insulin therapy.

ive recently tried to wean myself off them unsuccessfully and now take the original dose again.

i'm not a depressed type of personality usually so i wondered, is it possible that its the insulin (novorapid) thats causing it?

if so is apidra any better? i cant see the same list of side effects that novorapid has.

any comments/links/useful info are all welcome please

Are you using Lantus? If so you will find reports all over the www. saying it causes depresion.

[Tattoo azz]

Have you had your thyroid checked? This can cause depression if it's underactive.

[soso]

well this is all very interesring to me as I have been slapped to the floor with the blues lately... I have had it more on than off for the past couple of years but at a managable level,but lately I just can't seem to climb up out of it any more.

My Doc is trying to help, but I am very reluctant to go on the drugs (DH has chronic depression and has tried them all, but had to stop due to heart side effects, so I am afraid of them now)
Recently it has almost turned into panic attacks, as recognize what they are so I do not over react, but they seem to hit without warning, often when I am feeling otherwise happy and calm.. I almost seem a little manic to myself—very up and down not too much logic to it, though the smallest mishap will seem to plunge me into despair sometimes, despite my logic telling me the truth I might add.

I HAVE wondered about insulin, as I have always said I get an odd 'head feel' when I first take it, and it is not my bg level which I have tested extensively to see. I have also wondered about fast moving bg though, I do practice aggressive control. Other than that possibility, I put it down to the stress of the disease. I told my Dr that IMO my blues are reasonable considering my situation (not just D) I am a fighter, so I won't let this lick me either, but it has been a bit tough for me of late.

I am very interested to hear others views on a physical link..

[Subby]

As far as insulin goes, I don't know about short acting, but Lantus was indeed an issue for me. When I went off it onto the pump I had dramatic mental health improvement, generally clearer and less "downtrodden" feeling. When I returned to the Lantus for a weekend, the issues returned like clockwork. I urge any who suspect it's affecting them to trial time away from Lantus, at least 3 or 4 days to test the theory.

Otherwise, I can say without any doubt that just fluctuating BG can have a massive impact on mental health. How are your day to day levels? Fluctuating much?

This is not a universal phenomenon of course and it may or may not be obvious through HBa1c (I know of some people who are apparently happy-as-can-be sitting on 15 mmol/l all day). But for me, and others I've talked to, fluctuations have a direct negative effect psychologically, and they can be rather like a boxing match for the brain. With the brain taking knock out blows all the time, even if it's a healthy, resilient one, getting up all the time. It's like some form of repeated, bruising abuse, traumatism and depression is bound to occur. Did for me.

Don't know if it applies for you Shabbie, but worth thinking about.

[Gangrel]

There is also my theory that I can never prove (lol) that I remember reading in some magazine years ago........ (I seem so sure, don't I!)

I remember reading that diabetes can cause a change in the serontonin levels in your brain, which can bring on depression. However, I have mentioned this in the past and I don't know if anyone has found any proof to back it up.....


In any event, I think diabetes does enough to disrupt the normal "flow of energy and chemicals" in our body that something has to give.......

[notme]

I have never had a depression problem with any insulin, but I absolutely did on statins. I had to stop taking Lipitor because of body aches and depression. Are you taking a statin?

[soso]

No Statin..in fact nothing else at all except Vit D and calcium.. I have only been on the Lantus a few months (maybe 6?) Mentally I have been a lot worse recently, but it also ties in to a reallyhard time at work as well, so I thought maybe tiredness might be an issue...
I have read about the seritonin angle before as well...

I keep my range between 4 - 7 with just the occasional dip or spike either way, but mostly pretty steady.

[pegasus]

I believe depression can be closely associated with diabetes and changes in BG, especially chronically higher BGs, which can happen especially when undiagnosed. I'd suspect it's not the insulin per se that's causing the depression as what the insulin is doing to the BG levels, and the result can be mood changes. The causes of depression aren't fully understood, tho the thinking, as I've heard it, is more on the general chemical side--brain chemistry, etc. If that particular insulin is causing changes in your levels that are especially off for you, that could be a contributing factor. It could also be interacting with how you're feeling about being diabetic, how it's affecting your life, other unrelated life changes ... I've found a combination of Rx and talk therapy to be incredibly helpful.

soso--
Panic attacks and anxiety are separate disorders from depression, and there are different, gentler meds that might help with that (yes, I've been treated for that too). A good psychopharmacologist (psychiatrist/MD who specializes in therapeutic meds) could help. But as with any mental health professional, he/she should be someone you like and trust.

[Gary_W]

Hi Sharon,

Sorry to hear you're not feeling so good.

For those posting about Lantus etc, Sharon's on a pump these days so that can't be a factor here.

Personally, I feel mentally a lot better when I'm not going up and down like a yoyo with the BG. Again, you seem to have this bit covered.

I recall a study a short while ago claiming vitamin deficiancy in T1's (cannot remember which vitamin and can't now find the link so please excuse my lack of concrete knowledge here...) which was given as a theory for some of the vascular damage that can occur with us. The same vitamin could also cause depression if it was lacking.

Consequently, I started taking a multivitamin due to the Oxford study re the vascular problems. It may be placebo effect, but I felt rather brighter from a mindset point of view. Nowhere near as profound a difference as sleep improvements from pumping but there we go...

You also mention trying Apidra. No harm in it, but do be careful as it's a little fiesty until you're used to it

Hope you feel better soon.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by Gary_W

I recall a study a short while ago claiming vitamin deficiancy in T1's (cannot remember which vitamin and can't now find the link so please excuse my lack of concrete knowledge here...) which was given as a theory for some of the vascular damage that can occur with us. The same vitamin could also cause depression if it was lacking.

Thiamin deficiency.

Researchers find vitamin B1 deficiency key to vascular problems for diabetic patients

[Tattoo azz]

yay!.. more pills just what i need lol

[shabbie]

thanks for all of your replies everyone. its interesting to see other points of view on an issue like this.

i do feel much better now i'm back on the pills again. much more my usual self again now.

the vitamin b1 is worth looking into, so i'll get some of those...cant do any harm now can it lol!

i checked out a website that you can cross-reference for drug side effects, it didnt rule out depression as a side effect for novorapid or apidra. so maybe better the devil you know. i do quite like novorapid, as i can predict it very well.
thanks once again for your support.