Did you know that around 10% to 15% of all people who have diabetes also experience depression?
If you have diabetes and are experiencing depressive symptoms, understanding the link between depression and blood sugar is critical for supporting your health.
How are diabetes and mental health connected?
When we think of problems related to diabetes, its physical signs and symptoms come to mind first – hypertension, vision problems, dental disease, nerve damage and high risk of wound infection, for example. So then, how does diabetes impact mental health?
Diabetes is characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels. The brain uses glucose for all of its functions, including memory, emotions, thinking and behavior. If we have too much glucose streaming through the body, the brain, skin, eyes, feet and every other anatomical system will be affected. Growing evidence indicates a potential relationship between mood and blood sugar.
Furthermore, it is well documented that the burden of living with chronic illness does more than hurt your body. It causes emotional stress, increases mental fatigue, lowers energy levels and causes muscle pain.
Ways diabetes impacts your mental health
There are several ways diabetes affects your mental health. Some include:
Depression
Depression and diabetes share some symptoms. Being tired, sleeping a lot and having difficulty concentrating can happen when you have either condition. Signs of depression include:
- Fatigue
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Sleeping too much
- Unintended weight loss or weight gain
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Suicidal thoughts
If you have thoughts of hurting yourself or others, please call 911 or 988 (a free mental health hotline in the US) right away.
Anxiety
A recent survey discovered that anxiety disorders are the most often diagnosed mental health condition in the US. Additionally, another survey found that the rates of anxiety were 20% higher in Americans with diabetes than Americans without diabetes.
Anxiety is feelings of worry, nervousness or unease about something that’s going to happen, but not knowing how it will turn out. Symptoms may include:
- Avoiding certain people, places or events
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Gastrointestinal distress
Sometimes, anxiety happens because of how people feel about being diagnosed with diabetes and the stress of managing the condition. Other times, anxiety physically leads to or worsens diabetes. Either way, it is important to address both conditions at the same time because one condition cannot be treated separately from the other.
Diabetes Distress/Burnout
Managing diabetes can be challenging. Many people don’t know they can reach out for help to keep themselves on track. Sometimes, that leads to poor choices or getting overwhelmed, which sometimes includes feelings of depression and/or anxiety.
Even though diabetes burnout has similar characteristics to depression and anxiety, it cannot be treated effectively with medications. Instead, contact your primary care or endocrinologist’s office immediately to ask for the support you need and deserve.
Eating Disorders
Research shows that women who have diabetes are more likely to have an eating disorder than women who do not have diabetes. While there is no data on disordered eating among men and boys who have diabetes, it does occur in the general population; therefore, the warning signs shouldn’t be ignored.
Experts estimate that 12-40% of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes have an eating disorder, most often binge eating. Despite the high frequency of disordered eating in people with Type 2 diabetes, studies have found that adolescent girls and women who have Type 1 diabetes are twice as likely to develop an eating disorder than those who have Type 2 diabetes. The most common eating disorder in women with Type 1 diabetes is bulimia.
People who have diabetes might develop an eating disorder because of the amount of focus they have to put on body states, managing their weight and controlling their food. Some people may use their diabetes as a reason to cover up or excuse their eating disorder. Complications of diabetes and disordered eating can be dangerous, even fatal.
How do I manage diabetes and mental health?
Many treatments exist for mental health conditions, and it’s possible to manage both diabetes and mental health at the same time. A few tips for managing both diabetes and mental health include:
- Consider a diabetes self-management education (SME) program – These programs focus on behavior and can help improve your overall quality of life.
- Develop an exercise program like walking, dancing or biking every day for 10 minutes and keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.
- Make sure you’re seeing an endocrinologist for your diabetes care. He or she is likely to have a deeper understanding of diabetes challenges than your regular doctor.
- Ask your doctor to refer you to a mental health counselor who specializes in chronic health conditions.
More to Read
- Suicide Prevention: How to Recognize Red Flags—and Where to Reach Out for Help
- How Exercise Can Boost Your Mood
- Feeling Depressed? Find Out How to Cope.
- 4 Steps To Relieve Stress in Your Daily Life
Listen to Podcasts about Mental Health
Learn from Pamela Llewellen, MSW, LCSW-C, MBA, how to find a therapist or counselor who is a good fit for your and your needs. Listen to the podcast below, on your favorite streaming station or on our website.
Important ways to take part in suicide prevention is to understand the issues concerning suicide. Know the risk factors, identify the warning signs, learn how to help others in crisis and change the conversation around suicide. Jennifer Redding, LCSW-C, Executive Director of Behavioral Health at UM Upper Chesapeake Health, explains how to help prevent suicide. Listen to the podcast below, on your favorite streaming station or on our website.
Medically reviewed by Kashif M. Munir, M.D. and Kristine Batty, PhD., CRNP, BC-ADM, CDCES, FADCES
Updated 10/22/2024
