Depression Hinders Diabetes Control

The largest study of diabetes and depression to date has found adefinite link between insulin regimens and depression on poor diabetescontrol. The Duke University Medical Center study of 1034 diabeticpatients (18 years or older) also showed that patients who haveto administer at least 3 insulin shots daily have a higher risk of havingpoor control over their disease, compared with patients who requireless or no insulin.

Although depression affects diabetes control only in some patients,the researchers suggested that patients who need more insulin payclose attention to symptoms of depression. Research has indicatedthat 30% of adults with diabetes report having major depressivesymptoms. Depressive symptoms in these patients range fromreduced quality of life to increased diabetic complications.