Diabetes and Depression
Diabetes in itself is already a real physical and emotional burden for many in the United States and beyond who struggle with it on a daily basis. Often, treatment includes drastic change of lifestyle, constant self-monitoring, controlling diet, self-discipline, and more that may cause stress for the diagnosed patient. Sometimes, a condition that is commonly known as depression may accompany diabetes. This article will discuss how to spot depression, how the disease is connected to diabetes and treatment options for depression:
Symptoms of Depression
Symptoms of depression may vary from age group to age group. However, some common signs are the loss of pleasure in things you once took great interest in, an overwhelming sadness that interferes with work, caring for yourself, watching television, reading, or other daily activities, a drastic change in sleeping habits that may mean not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much, a change in eating habits which may cause weight to yo-yo, fatigue, thoughts of hurting yourself, and feeling both nervous and guilty for no real reason. If you feel you have these symptoms, and they persist, see a doctor, especially if you already have diabetes, or are at risk for developing it.
The Diabetes and Depression Connection
It is not yet clear to doctors and researchers the exact connection between these two diseases. However, it does seem that diabetes may have some hand in causing depression, and also depression may have some hand in patients developing diabetes. No matter the case, those with diabetes often develop depression because they may feel different than friends and family, may feel a medical or financial burden, or may feel overwhelmed. It is important that patients with diabetes get their depression under control because persistence of the disease could mean they stop caring for their diabetes properly. For some patients, this could quickly lead to complications in the cardiovascular, urinary, and vision systems.
Treatment Options
If you or someone you love who has diabetes or is at risk for the disease seems to be depressed, see your doctor immediately, and tell them all the symptoms you are experiencing. Your doctor can determine if you have depression. If they diagnose you with the disease, then they can also help you to find help for your depression through different medical treatment options. Treatment options most often prescribed or recommended by doctors for those suffering from depression may include psychotherapy with a specialist, counseling, support groups, and medications. Normally, a doctor will prescribe a combination of these things: for example, both counseling to be taken with antidepressant medications. By getting your depression under control, you can better help to control your diabetes in the future. Better control means less likely to feel as if you have lost control, a feeling which may make some sufferers of diabetes feel even more depressed, or may trigger depression. Both diabetes and depression are diseases that are long-term and serious, though there are medical treatment options for both.