Depression increases the risk of diabetes

People who suffer from depression are at an increased risk of developing type II diabetes.

(17.08.2010) People who suffer from the depressive syndrome have an increased diabetes type 2 risk, the German Diabetes Society (DDG) said. Because with depression, most patients tend to become overweight and move too much in everyday life. This in turn favors diabetes.

But not only the lack of exercise is responsible. In depression, stress also increases the cortisol level in the blood. Increasing the hormone value promotes insulin resistance, which is what cortisol is responsible for. Sugar can then no longer be stored in the body cells from the blood to a sufficient extent. This results in the following diabetes type II disease. As the German Diabetes Society announced, therefore, people with depression should be examined for diabetes.

Both diseases seem to favor strongly in the negative sense. For example, a scientific study has found that type II diabetes patients are eleven times more likely to suffer from complications of small blood vessels than diabetics without depression. Also, the risk of suffering a heart attack, which is triggered by the damage to the large blood vessels, increases by a factor of 2.5.

Combination depression and diabetes type II particularly problematic.
Diabetes type II patients who are also suffering from depression have a particularly difficult time. For in a depression, people are extremely impulsive and strong in itself. If the depression is particularly pronounced, suicidal tendencies are added. In diabetes, however, it is particularly important to actively participate in the therapy goal. This is particularly difficult for depressed people. "Depression is a major barrier," said Bernhard Kulzer, chairman of the Psychology Society within the Diabetes Society (DDG). As a result, the risk of complications and serious complications increases too much. The more serious the sequelae, the more manifest and pronounced is depression. This can lead to complications such as foot amputation or blindness. "Affected diabetics also need psychological support, especially at the beginning of the disease, and when late complications occur.A waiving a psychological care not only worsens quality of life and life of diabetics," said the DDG. (Sb)

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