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Depression and Eating Disorders

As if having diabetes was not enough, it turns out that diabetics are more susceptible to developing depression and eating disorders as well. 

At any given moment, most people with diabetes do not have depression; however, people with diabetes are more likely to become depressed than those without.  There has been no study that has found out the cause for this, but it is believed that fluctuations in blood glucose levels, the stress of trying to control these fluctuations, and “administrative” stress (such as dealing with insurance companies, paying for prescriptions, etc) may play a part in the onset of depression.  Stressful events (not related to diabetes) have been shown to aid in the cause of depression; being stressed can cause blood sugar fluctuations in people with diabetes (read more about stress and diabetes at http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/stress.jsp), and these fluctuations may create even more stress and lead to more symptoms of depression including: guilt that you are not controlling your diabetes (and that you cannot do anything right), feeling sad or “blue” for a long time (two weeks or more), change in appetite, loss of energy, etc.  (read more about depression and diabetes at http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/depression.jsp). 

If you are feeling stressed, it may help to talk and vent your frustrations to someone who may understand.  If you feel that person may be another person with diabetes, contact me or another group member.  Or maybe you’re stressed about a class, and therefore a classmate would be the better person to talk to.  The University also has a Mental Health Services for people who feel very stressed or think they may be depressed.  They can be reached at: http://www.umass.edu/uhs/mentalhealth/

(413) 545-2337 (8am-5pm weekdays)
(413) 577-5000 (after hrs, weekends)

Remember, you are not in this alone.

Not only are people who have diabetes more at risk to develop depression, one study of diabetic and non-diabetic adolescent females reported that there was a higher incidence of eating disorders in the diabetic group (Jones et al).  The most common form of eating disorder found within the diabetic group was classified as “binge and purge.”  In this case, purging was not vomiting; instead it was purposefully not giving a correct insulin dose for the amount of food eaten.  This is very dangerous behavior and can result in diabetic keto-acidosis, hospitalization, feelings of fatigue, nausea, and the uncontrolled blood glucose levels that result from this behavior will cause the “classic” complications of retinopathy, neuropathy, kidney problems, etc in the long run.  There are ways that are much more healthy and safe to keep weight off.  This includes adding exercise to your lifestyle and eating the right amounts of healthy foods.

If you know anyone who exhibits this sort of behavior, or do so yourself, please seek help because it only makes life harder.

The University Mental Health Services is a good place to start: http://www.umass.edu/uhs/mentalhealth/

(413) 545-2337 (8am-5pm weekdays)
(413) 577-5000 (after hrs, weekends)

Works Cited:

Depression.  American Diabetes Assiociation.  http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/depression.jsp

Jones, JM et al.  Eating disorders in adolescent females with and without type 1 diabetes: cross sectional study.  BMJ. 2000 June 10; 320(7249): 1563–1566