Diabetes and Depression
Depression as a Cause of Diabetes
Most everyone knows someone with diabetes. The
disease is so widespread today not only in the United States but
also throughout the world. Diabetes leads to many complications,
including cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, blindness, and in
severe cases, amputation of limbs.
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Studies show that depression early in life
can be a contributing cause of diabetes in an adult. Why is
that? Depression leads to other problems, including weight
gain, unhealthy eating habits, and lack of motivation to
exercise. Diabetes must be treated with healthy life
changes as well as medication. Healthy changes include,
eating the correct foods, keeping a correct weight for your
body, and getting the proper exercise.
Not surprising, these are also treatments for
depression.
What does this tell us about depression and
diabetes? Children and teenagers, who are diagnosed with
depression or anxiety problems when they are young, also
were heavier when they become an adult. Because there is a
connection between being overweight and diabetes, take
efforts to control the situation before the teenager becomes
an adult. |
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Women who suffer from anxiety disorder and
depression have higher BMI (body mass index) from other women of
the same age and social status, but did not suffer from
depression or other mental disorders. This appears more often
in women than men.
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Patients treated for diabetes and for
depression often don’t show an improvement. Why? There is
no change in their eating habits, or exercise program.
In both depression and diabetes, a change
must occur in the lifestyle to ease symptoms of both these
diseases. Patients who have diabetes and depression die at
twice the rate of those diabetics who are not depressed.
Their complications could be heart disease, stroke, teeth
and gum disease, nerve damage, and problems with their
kidneys. The American Diabetes Association tell us that
over 21 million people suffer from diabetes, mostly Type 2
which is linked to obesity and being overweight.
Depressed diabetics fail to take care of
their health, often continue smoking, keep the same weight,
they fail to exercise, or eat healthy. |
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Cells gradually lose their sensitivity to
insulin. Blood sugar levels must be controlled because
severe complications can lead to an early death.
A recently released study on elderly diabetics
shows they may respond well to clinical intervention programs.
It was formerly believed that depressed diabetics would not
control their blood sugar levels. This kept some of them from
getting the right treatment in a clinical intervention program.
Depression in itself does not cause any change in blood sugar
levels. That important study allows depressed patients to
enroll in clinical intervention programs.
Childhood depression or anxiety disorders are a
warning signal to watch for early signs of diabetes.
Encouraging healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and sleep
is the best tool for fighting diabetes.
Encourage your family to eat healthy balanced
meals and increase their level of physical activity. Stay away
from refined sugars, and put plenty of fiber in your diet plan.
Stay focused on treating diabetes and depression. Depression
and diabetes can be fought at the same time with the same
methods.
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