Mental health is by far one of the most underserved yet overly saturated problems of our generation. Yeah, I said it. Our lives are arguably far easier than the generations before us, yet we are riddled with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and addiction more than ever before.
The bad news for diabetes patients is that you are more likely to be diagnosed with depression or worse —schizophrenia— than the general population. Depression seems to have become a non-trendy trend in recent years in that everyone knows someone that has battled the feel-nothingness of depression. It can be especially difficult for those with diabetes as this lack of motivation can interfere with treatment of diabetes, potentially causing fatal harm.
So let’s take a look at the signs of depression, what to expect as a person with diabetes, and how we can counteract it.
Depression 101
Most people think that depression is just an ongoing state of sadness. While this may be true for some, it’s actually not the only symptom, nor is it the hallmark symptom.
Clinicians will look for five of the following nine symptoms to positively diagnose a patient with depression:
- Depressed or anxious mood. This can sometimes look sad, but it can also look like excessive worrying as well. A hollow, empty, and purposeless feeling is how many people describe a depressed mood.
- Disturbances in sleep on either end of the spectrum, including too much sleep and insomnia. Waking in the early morning hours without the ability to fall back asleep is a classic symptom.
- Decreased interest in activities that have normally been exciting or fun.
- Guilt or worthlessness when guilt isn’t warranted.
- Decreased energy and heavy, long-lasting fatigue.
- Concentration difficulties and struggle to making otherwise easy decisions.
- Appetite changes on either end of the spectrum, like a loss of appetite or a sudden increase in appetite that is unexplainable. Watch for significant weight changes that can’t be explained by any other condition.
- Psychomotor retardation or agitation. This can be a sudden decline in hand-eye coordination or the shakes.
- Suicidal ideation or thoughts. While this is an extreme symptom of depression, it is worth noting that it goes along with the diagnosis for many.
Diabetes and Depression
In a meta-analysis that was published by The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the authors said that depression was documented so commonly among diabetes patients that they would recommend it be considered a definitive risk factor those with diabetes.
Another meta-analysis explored the correlation between diabetes, depression, and mortality rates not only to find that indeed there is a significant correlation between diabetes and depression but also to find that the two diagnoses, together, are correlated with a 1.5-fold increased risk of mortality!
The authors of both articles agreed that this is huge; it is big enough to be concerning in the diabetes community and warrants more attention. They also agreed that more research is needed so that scientists, doctors, and mental health professionals alike can effectively treat and perhaps prevent depression and increased mortality risk among diabetes patients.
5 Ways to Combat Depression
When I was in grad school (for my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy), I once had a professor say that the best way to treat depression is to simply act like you’re not depressed. Sounds simple, right? Almost foolish, really.
He was right, though. The very things that you do to lead a healthy life also help your body and brain fight off depression. This is because a healthy lifestyle helps your brain maintain a stable chemical balance while providing you with energy throughout the day and a restful night.
Need a little guidance? Here are 5 ways to naturally combat depression:
- Eat healthy. Eating food that is meant to feed your body provides you with all the vitamins and minerals that your body and brain need to maintain a healthy —and stable— balance.
- Exercise. There is heaps of research to support the idea that exercise elevates mood. Like healthy eating, it helps your body maintain a healthy balance of chemicals and hormones, making it easier for you to resist the heavy pull of depression.
- Keep a routine. By following through with your daily activities and maintaining a purpose for each day, you are better helping your brain move forward through the depressive symptoms. Sounds simple enough, but it actually works.
- Do activities that you used to enjoy. While you may not enjoy much at the moment and would rather spend your time in bed, doing activities that you originally loved essentially tricks your brain into thinking that all is good just like before you were depressed (in an overly simplified explanation).
- Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy. Perhaps my favorite treatment option is not only empirically supported as one of the most effective method treatments for depression but also is an easy option to do yourself, at home.
If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or your loved one then take a closer look at whether or not depression can be the issue. These methods of treatment can help alleviate the pain of depression. Of course, if you or your loved one are at serious risk then please take care of yourself and contact a professional right away.
[expand title=”References“]
Family Practice Notebook. URL Link. Accessed January 25, 2017.
Diabetes.co.uk. URL Link. Accessed January 25, 2017.
Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. URL Link. Accessed January 25, 2017.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. URL Link. Accessed January 25, 2017.
PLoS ONE. URL Link. Accessed January 25, 2017.
Good Therapy. URL Link. Accessed January 25, 2017.
WebMD. URL Link. Accessed January 25, 2017.
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