Depression and Diabetes

Diabetes Distress

Healthcare professionals are aware that people with diabetes are more likely to become depressed. Diabetes care can have unpredictable outcomes at times. Diabetes distress comes from dealing with the weight of diabetes. The worries, fears, and concerns that come with managing a progressive, chronic disease are called as diabetes distress.  

Depression is a more serious mental health problem. Symptoms of depression can last from a couple of weeks to months. 

Common Depression Symptoms  

  • Fatigue 
  • Excessive sadness, guilt, feelings of worthlessness 
  • Sleeping too little or too much 
  • Loss of interest in usual activities 
  • Change in appetite  
  • Weight loss or weight gain  
  • Finding it very hard to make decisions or concentrate 
  • Restlessness 
  • Withdrawal 
  • Feelings of suicide 

Any of these symptoms should be discussed with your healthcare professional. Even if you are not sure if you are depressed, they are trained to help with symptoms of depression. Your doctor or diabetes educator can ask with a few simple questions to evaluate your level of depression. 

Because diabetes and depression negatively affect each other, they must both be treated. As one improves, the other will likely also improve.  

counseling therapy session
Common depression treatments

Depression is very treatable. Work with your doctor to find out what type of treatment is available.  

  • Talk therapy 
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy 
  • Motivational interviewing 
  • Other forms of psychotherapy 
  • Medication 
  • Exercise/Yoga 
  • Meditation 

Diabetes support groups can also be helpful in helping with depression. A support group can serve as a form of talk therapy. One of the main benefits of going to a diabetes support group is sharing the challenges and triumphs of diabetes with people who can relate. 

sandwich with meat and lettuce
Depression may increase or decrease appetite.

Either way, blood glucose may be negatively affected. Reach out to your support system and ask for help. Allow others to help with food preparation or grocery shopping. Keep meals and snacks simple until you are feeling better. If your appetite is poor, try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Just be mindful of your total carbohydrate intake. Another option may be pre-prepared meals. 

Remember that if you are taking insulin or other medications with the potential to cause hypoglycemia, you must eat, or risk having your blood glucose drop too low.  

The following are quick and easy options for days when cooking is too much of a struggle: 

  • Sandwich with two slices of bread = (~ 30 grams of carbohydrate) 
  • 1 cup of soup made with water = (~ 15 grams of carbohydrate) 
  • 1 small piece of fresh fruit = (~15 grams carbohydrate) 
  • 4 ounces of fruit juice = (~ 15 grams of carbohydrate) 
  • ½ cup of canned fruit packed in own juice or water = (~15 grams of carbohydrate) 
  • 6 ounces of non-fat Greek yogurt  = (~ 15 grams of carbohydrate) 
  • 1 cup non-fat milk = (~12 grams of carbohydrate) 
  • ¾ cup of unsweetened ready-to-eat cereal = (~ 15 grams of carbohydrate) 
  • 6 saltine-type crackers = (~15 grams of carbohydrate)