Diabetes: Depressed people with diabetes are more likely to die

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MunichDepression has a negative effect on the course of diabetes. As a result, people with diabetes who are depressed, on average, die earlier than diabetics who are mentally stable, according to a large survey study.

More than 100,000 participants

For the meta-analysis, the research team led by Professor Johannes Kruse from the University of Marburg evaluated the data from 16 studies with more than 100,000 diabetics - most of them type 2 diabetics. In some of the studies, possible depression was professionally diagnosed using standardized questionnaires. In the other studies, the study directors only asked about the occurrence of typical symptoms of a depressive mood. These include depression, exhaustion, and listlessness.

“With the analysis we were able to show for the first time that not only diabetics with a medically diagnosed depression have an increased risk of death. The connection was also clearly demonstrable for patients who stated in the studies that they suffered from depressive moods, ”says Kruse.

Psyche and blood sugar

Diabetes and depression are interrelated, according to Kruse. This leads to the two diseases affecting each other negatively. People with diabetes often also suffer mentally from their illness - for example, because the demanding treatment of the disease, with constant blood sugar controls and medication, has put a lot of strain on them or they have already suffered secondary diseases. A lack of psychological processing of the disease also has a negative effect.

The problem: If a diabetic also suffers from depression, he often neglects therapy. He checks his blood sugar less than necessary or does not take his medication regularly.

No strength for therapy

Unhealthy behaviors are often compounded: "Because of their depression, these patients find it particularly difficult to maintain a lifestyle that counteracts type 2 diabetes," explains the scientist. These include, for example, regular exercise, a balanced diet and achieving a normal weight. People with depression simply lack the drive to do this.

Not only can diabetes trigger depression, but vice versa, depression can also encourage diabetes to develop in the first place. The reason for this could be that depression directly influenced the metabolism, says Kruse. Because the emotional stress of depression means constant stress for those affected. The increased release of the stress hormone cortisone can then drive up the blood sugar level.

Early treatment is important

"Psychosomatic care can alleviate the negative effects of depression on blood sugar metabolism," says Kruse. It is all the more important that doctors become aware of their patients' depressive symptoms at an early stage so that they can be treated appropriately. In many diabetics, depression currently remains undetected - with sometimes fatal consequences. (jb)

Sources:

Depression increases the risk of death for diabetics. Press release Working Group of Scientific Medical Societies. 05.03.2014

Hormann, M. et al. Depression as a Risk Factor for Mortality in Individuals with Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. PLOS ONE.

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