Researchers delving into the complexities of diabetes and depression [a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity] found that the presence of either disease significantly increases the risk that the other too developing.
While the depression-diabetes relationship appears bidirectional, the association in the diabetes to depression direction appears stronger than the inverse. "Although it has been hypothesized that the diabetes-depression relation is bidirectional, few studies have addressed this hypothesis in a prospective setting," said An Pan, Ph.D. of the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston and colleagues.
Link between depression and diabetes examined In order to examine the association between diabetes and depression simultaneously, the researchers tracked 65,381 women who were aged 50-75 years in 1996. All the study subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire pertaining to their medical history and health practices.
In addition, they were medically assessed every two years until 2006. Women using antidepressants, exhibiting depressive symptoms, and those diagnosed by a physician for the disorder were classified as suffering from depression.
Diabetic women on the other hand were categorized as those requiring oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin [a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin affects the amount of glucose absorbed by the liver.] therapy for treatment.
Outcome of the study
In the follow-up period, 7,415 of the participants experienced mental depression while 2,844 were diagnosed with diabetes.
After taking into account life style factors, mood swings, physical activity and body mass index [a number, derived by using height and weight measurements, that gives a general indication of whether or not weight falls within a healthy range.] (BMI), it was noted that the risk of developing diabetes was 17 percent higher in depressed women.
Moreover, women who were on antidepressant medicines had a 25 percent higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those who were free from depression.
The researchers found that diabetic women were 29 percent more likely to develop depression. Women who took insulin for diabetes elevated their risk of clinical depression by 53 per cent as opposed to those without the disease.
The authors concluded, “A diagnosis of diabetes may lead to the symptoms of depression for the following reasons: depression may result from the biochemical changes directly caused by diabetes or its treatment, or from the stresses and strains associated with living with diabetes and its often debilitating consequences.
“Future studies are needed to confirm our findings in different populations and to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying this association. Furthermore, depression and diabetes are highly prevalent in the middle-aged and elderly population, particularly in women.
“Thus, proper lifestyle interventions including adequate weight management and regular physical activity are recommended to lower the risk of both conditions.”The study was published in the Nov. 22 issue of 'Archives of Internal Medicine,' one of the JAMA/Archives journals.