Most people with diabetes are not depressed. But having diabetes does double your risk for depression, research shows. This may be simply because the daily demands of managing diabetes are stressful. But experts suspect there’s a biochemical connection, too. No matter what the cause, if you have diabetes, stay alert for depression warning signs such as feeling sad or hopeless, loss of interest in daily activities, trouble concentrating or making decisions, unplanned weight gain or loss, feeling tired or weak, chronic pain, or suicidal thoughts. Get help immediately if you have any of these. Depression curtails your ability to manage diabetes, and could contribute to a worsening of the condition.

• Depression can interfere with good blood sugar control, making it more difficult to eat a healthy diet, exercise, check your blood sugar or take medications.
• Take depression seriously. In one study, it raised risk for serious diabetes complications like blindness, kidney failure and heart attacks by 25 to 36%.
• Stress reduction, regular exercise, cognitive behavior therapy and antidepressants are all proven ways to lift depression.
• About 15% of people with diabetes are depressed at any one time; one in four people with diabetes will have an episode of depression at some point.
• Depression also increases your risk for developing diabetes by about 37%. The link may be inflammation and/or high levels of stress hormones.

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