It may or may not come as a huge surprise to those of you who suffer from diabetes that depression is closely associated with this disease. The American Diabetes Association tells us that people with diabetes are at greater risk for depression. They provide statistics which show that while the ...
Diabetes and Depression: What's the Connection?
11/14/09 3:32pm
It makes perfect sense to me that having diabetes could make you vulnerable to developing depression. I don't have diabetes, but when I get depressed, some of it feels like it's about not having control over something important to me. While you can manage diabetes, you can't erase Type I, though sometimes Type II seems to be reversible. Any kind of chronic illness, I'm sure, can set you up for depression - it feels like your body is out of your control. Maybe it starts out at anger over the situation, then as you realize you can't do anything about it to make it go away, the anger turns into depression. Hopefully, one can come to acceptance at some point.
This is a little reminder that if we or someone we know has diabetes, we should perhaps be on the lookout for signs of depression. Depression can often lead to people not taking good care of themselves, so it's really inter-connected. Thanks for sharing this, Merely Me.
11/14/09 4:58pm
Hi Merely Me, this is a very intersting topic, thanks for posting it. I have a sad story about a family member who had juvenile type 1 and adult diabetes who commited suicide. Of course those with diabetes don't necessarily have this horrible outcome, but I do believe that if my brother in-law had sought help earlier for his depression, as a result of his diabetes, he probably would be with us today.
He had a lot of anger about having to give himself a shot daily from the age of 10, and seemed to feel that the medical community and life failed him in some way. He never was able to get an insulin pump and I know the shots were very hard on him. Having to watch every morsel you eat, not being able to participate in certain activities the other kids could, all played a role in his depression as a child and adult.
He may have also felt like he was singled out by the crowd, as a child and adult, which would definitely cause major depression for some. Some of us have different coping mechanisms and can deal with depression more successfully, but without some form of support, help and guidance it seems like it would be easy to fall into depression from having to deal with this for your entire life.
For those looking for help with either Diabetes or Depression go to HealthCentrals web sites on these disorders for some support.
Pam Flores (community leader at HealthCentrals osteoporosis site)
11/14/09 5:19pm
Hi again, there's one more thing I wanted to add to my post, and that is, if you are feeling depressed please seek medical attention. Our sites are wonderful for community sharing and support, but you do need help from a doctor so your depression doesn't escalate to the level my brother-in-laws did.
Good luck to all of you!!! There are many out there who can lend a helping hand, so take the first step towards a more fulfilling and joyful life when you are dealing with any medical disorder by asking for help.
Pam Flores
11/15/09 10:35am
Hey Judy!
You make some really good points here. Yes it is true that depression can definitely affect your physical well being and particularly so if you already are suffering from a chronic illness such as diabetes. One can easily fall into the cycle of not taking care of themselves because they feel too depressed and this leads to not managing their diabetes and then feeling more unwell and more depressed. It can be an endless negative cycle.
So what I want to do is to offer hope to people who have both diabetes and depression that there is support and treatment for both conditions. You don't have to go through this alone.
11/15/09 10:42am
Oh Pam! I am so very sorry. What a tragic and heartbreaking story.
You have clearly pointed out why it is so very important to get help for depression early on. I am hoping by posting this that people who are suffering from depression will be able to reach out and get some help.
I know it was probably very hard for you to share this story...thank you Pam.
11/15/09 10:44am
Thanks again Pam for this reminder.
You are very right...these sites are never to replace the care and treatment of your medical doctor. For anyone who is concerned that they may have depression please do schedule an appointment with your doctor who can then refer you to see a mental health practitioner.
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It would be unusual to me, for a person suffering with a life long illness like Diabetes not to have at least bouts with depression and yet there are people who outwardly seem not to fall into that dark place. Any condition which robs us of what we want to do, and those which require so much care and will to face daily, would at least me, put me into depression. However, I've managed to that on my own! :)
I would urge people, from knowing of your depression work, to at least visit that site and look around, there is help for those who need to talk and read and learn of ways to cope. To cope with their children who have been stricken, or just need to vent and find some friends. There is no doubt in my mind that these two conditions, one very much physical and the other completely unseen, are inevitably linked. Good article, Merely Me.
Thanks so much Paul!
Yes I do want to send a welcome message to anyone who might want to visit My Depression Connection for information and support.
I imagine that coping with such a chronic and life threatening disease such as diabetes is very draining emotionally. And there is no harm in getting some emotional support. Please know that whatever you may be dealing with right now...there is help and there is hope.