Symptoms of Depression Tied to Diabetes

Depressive symptoms appear to increase the likelihood of developing diabetes, according to a new study.

Dr. Lawrence J. Appel at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, and colleagues studied more than 11,000 individuals for six years. None had diabetes before the study began, but more than 700 developed the disease by the end of six years.

The researchers asked about symptoms of depression including fatigue, sleep disturbance, feelings of hopelessness, loss of sexual desire, and increased irritability. Those who had the most depressive symptoms had the highest risk of developing diabetes, according to the study, which is published in the journal Diabetes Care.

The authors suggest that there are at least four possible reasons why depressive symptoms and diabetes could be linked.

One is that "depressed individuals are less likely to be compliant with dietary and weight loss recommendations and are more likely to be physically inactive and nonadherent with medications." Obesity has been strongly linked to type 2 diabetes.

Other possible reasons involve low socioeconomic status, antidepressants that might cause weight gain, and hormone changes.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, February 2004.