created: 29.09.2004
last modified: 29.09.2004
This means a lot of stress, especially during the first time after the diagnosis and can initiate feelings like anger, fear or even depressions. A temporary phase of displeasure, grief or doubt is normal. But what to do, when the diseased can't escape the depressive phase, and feels overcharged? What to do when the "bad times" turn into a real depression?
In general depressions are not regarded as a side effect or consequence of diabetes. But compared to non-diabetics, diabetes patients suffer more often from depressions and need treatment. It is estimated that 10 - 15% of all blood glucose disease patients suffer from a serious depression.
Often a depression isn't even recognised as what it is. Symptoms like tiredness, lack of motivation and loss of weight are erroneously assigned to the blood glucose disease. Some people shy at the walk to the doctor or psychotherapist, because they are afraid of not being taken seriously. There's actually no reason for that, because for a long time now depressions count as a serious disease that needs treatment.
Seriously depressive diabetics take care less for their illness
Since 300 years already scientists are trying to examine the connections between depressions and diabetes. It is commonly known that diabetes means stress for body and mind, which can have a negative effect on the blood glucose level. During a depression the whole body can "loose the balance". This has bad consequences for the stable setting of the diabetes. Depressions often come with lack of appetite or disrupted eating habits, which is also bad for a diabetic, whose metabolism needs exactly adapted eating habits.
Moreover, the lack of motivation and energy keeps many diabetics from paying enough attention to their health - the exact compliance with their eating regulations or their injection plan seems an unachievable endeavour. Also people with serious depressions find it very hard to do enough exercise and sport. The consequences are fatal: Besides the existing diabetes, depressions lead to a further negative development of the state of health.
Studies have shown that successful treatment of depressions, for example with antidepressants combined with psychotherapy, can lead to a significant improvement of the blood glucose levels for diabetics. The Hba1c level can be lowered by 0,5 to 1%. The risk of consequential diseases, like heart or vascular diseases or the disease of the eyes, can hereby be limited.
But beware: Following recent studies, some antidepressants, the so-called "atypicals", possibly support type-2 diabetes. The best idea is to talk to an acknowledged diabetes-specialised psychologist. You can find contact details of those specialised psychologists via this link: http://diabetes-psychologie.de/fpd_adr.htm
