Would we have depression if we were not diabetics?

Mental and Emotional Wellness
41

For me, the answer is no. I had my first depression when I was in the 5th grade -- everyone was picking on me, and I had no friends, and my mother was always screaming at me because I was not behaving well, and she didn't know why.

Diabetes came much later (age 43), and while I did have a lot of emotional turmoil, it wasn't a depression, because I was learning a lot, and for me, learning has always been the antidote.

All my life, I have suffered periodic acute depression, and no, diabetes does not make it any easier, but it's not the cause.

42

Not being able to tell the difference between a low and a hot flash was exactly the reason I started hormone therapy at 47. I went off it when I was 53, and haven't had any hot flashes since. Short term estrogen therapy might be a good idea!

43

Having been diagnosed at the age of 13, I don’t know if the diabetes caused the depression or not. However, my grandfather had severe depression, and my father had it too. I was mildly depressed most of my adult life, with a few acute episodes, but after the birth of my second child I just couldn’t “snap out of it”. And went on Fluoxetine. AMAZING. I am much less stressed and anxious. I’ve had a few traumas in the past 4 years which have meant I haven’t come off the medication: death of a parent, other parent being ill and having accidents, and my own diagnosis with malignant melanoma.
Whenever I’ve brought up the possible link between diabetes (a lifelong disease) and depression, I’ve only been quoted studies into depression and Type 2. As if Type 1 won’t cause it.

44

A link, in other words, a correlation, does NOT equal causation. There is no proof about diabetes of either type causing depression, or vice versa.

45

I think there is a definite correlation between diabetes and depression. I’ve been depressed many times over the past 30 years because of my disease. The worst of the depression for me was when I found out I had chronic kidney failure in addition to Type 1 Diabetes. I recently found out my sister was a match and she’s going to donate a kidney, but before she stepped forward, nobody did. Nobody discussed it with me, nobody wanted to help me, and I felt completely alone. Now that I know I’m getting a kidney, I’ve tried to create a new outlook for myself. One of them is acceptance of the disease. I’ve been in denial since the day I was diagnosed, and now I’m realizing I just have to take my life back and not let the diabetes be in control of it anymore. I can’t let it depress me.

A couple of weeks ago, I met a man who is blind, deaf in one ear, has had two amputations, two kidney transplants and a quadruple by-pass. He is such an inspiration to me and I cried for two days after I met him. It was difficult meeting him, as a saw a reflection of myself and realized any one of those complications could happen to me if I don’t start changing my lifestyle. But now, he is a completely positive person. Despite what he has gone through, he still knows how to laugh, and he still lives his life to its fullest. He is now an advocate who speaks on behalf of the blind and deaf associations.

I want to create a more positive outlook for myself so rather than going on anti-depressants, my doctor sent me to counselling, which has helped tremendously. I’m trying so hard to get a grip so I can control the disease rather than it controlling me.

If I didn’t have diabetes, I think I’d still be prone to depression. I think it’s an emotion everyone faces at some point in their lives, whether they have a disease or not.

46

I had depression LONG before I developed diabetes. I had my first major depression when I was in the 5th grade, but didn’t develop diabetes until I was 43, and not diagnosed until I was 45. I’m sure the undiagnosed diabetes made the depression worse, though.

I DON’T think everyone has depression though. Most people have their blue days, but they pull out of it rapidly. Major depression, on the other hand lasts months to years, and makes it hard to even get out of bed. In my case, if I’m not on an antidepressant, I think of suicide 24/7. NO relief, and it’s acutely painful. It has nothing to do with real life, because while I’m not rich, I DO have everything I need, and friends, and family, and there’s no REASON to get suicidally depressed. Of course, bad luck events make it a lot worse, but the tendency is there, no matter what.

I agree with you that acceptance of diabetes (or any chronic disease) is an important step in relieving depression. I’m still struggling with that after 20 years. And it’s important to accept yourself as a good, lovable and worthwhile person – not let those inner voices tell you you’re crap. And also not accept blame for things you really had no control over. (I’m half talking to myself here, because these are things I struggle with).

I applaud you for going to counseling, and I hope you keep up the good work. It takes time, and for every step forward, there is a half step back, but I truly think it’s worth it. I’ve been going for about 3 years now, and have an excellent therapist, and also attend a women’s group – they all help, but I still struggle.

Keep up the good work, and feel free to talk as much as you want here – people care!

Natalie ._c-

47

I was depressed before being diagnosed with diabetes but the diagnosis really kicked it up a notch. Now if I am not on antidepressants I get moody and angry. I also start to lash out like going out to bars and staying out all night and just simply not caring. Before my diagnosis and dealing with carb counting and injections I was ok. I went to counselling but was never put on anything. Now with the added anxiety I need to be on something. I know for me that I would probably still be depressed but maybe not as severe as I am now.

48

Hi all -

While Major Depression and Type 1 Diabetes were diagnosed at the same time, it was likely the preceding year of losses that brought them together so acutely. However one didn’t cause the other. I had bouts of depression as a child, and still suffer from PTSD (I’m 53 now). My ongoing depression is the result of a past that taught me a negative and false belief system about myself, my place in family, and in society. I also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is a bigger contributer to my depression than diabetes, as a lack of energy keeps me limited in activity - and to meeting and keeping friends. THAT is very stressful. Stress, regardless of origin, is highly associated with depression. If you allow yourself to be consumed by the day in and day out stress of balancing blood sugars with activity, carbs, and insulin, you may be more likely to be experiencing depression in association with diabetes. The highs and lows are more stressful for some than others, so the additional focus on your diabetes and how you define yourself as a diabetic will also contribute. Other things going on in our lives add to the burden of stress we carry. I was extremely angry that I couldn’t live like a ‘normal’ person in the early years of my diagnosis (1983). My pump has been a Godsend in this regard, allowing me the freedom to not worry and stress so much about the forementioned balance (or imbalance!). I’m about to add a cgmd - I may be more stressed with than without - we’ll see. As for now the CFS has far more impact on my ability to live like a 'norma’l person and does have an inherent depression that seems to go with it. I’ve been on medication for the most part of 25 years now, and more than likely will need it for the rest of my life. Not happy about it, but we do the best we can.

49

Here’s a medical perspective, although only working with Type 2 diabetes, it’s a GREAT article!

http://healthland.time.com/2010/11/24/study-the-link-between-diabetes-and-depression-goes-both-ways/

50

Ive had severe chronic depression since I was 20…that’s about 30+ years. It wasn’t diagnosed until I was well into my 30’s…and my “D” came along about 11 years ago, so in my case, yes I would have been depressed clinically whether I got “D” or not…BUT I don’t think that helped the process of learning to live without having those depressed feelings. It just added to the things I deal with on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s just to much to say “oh well”.

51

I think it’s a vicious cycle: the depression makes me not motivated to care for my diabetes, and the high BGs then make me feel like ■■■■ and contribute to the depression. The one certainly doesn’t help the other. I call them the 4D’s: Diabetes and Depression, the Deadly Duo. And it CAN be deadly – I almost killed myself last year, because depression makes it impossible to resist binge eating of carbs, and then my BGs just kept on going up because either I wasn’t taking enough insulin or not taking any, and I ended up in a coma. Someone criticized me, saying that phrase was being negative about depression and diabetes, but I’m sorry, it’s too true for me, and I take the combo VERY seriously.

So, Cathy, I get what you mean when you say sometimes it’s just too much!

Take care, OK?

52

Cathy, I was dx’d in 1967 and had lived with the disease for 2 years without insulin support. I married 36 years ago and my husband left me in April of this year. April Fool’s Day to be exact. Funny? It was after a bad hypoglycemic episode and he packed his bags and left. Said he wasn’t going to watch me die. I had had many episodes over the years but they did seem to be getting worse. Think most of it was due to menopause and the changes in hormone levels. So depressed I am. Fight it every day. I’ve realized since April - after he (my ex) pointed it out to me - I suffer from depression regularly. I don’t want to take medication for it even though I’ve been told I might need it. Has anyone offered you any advise on what to do to?

53

Well, I kind of view it as a spectrum. Psychotherapy from a GOOD therapist is very helpful, but some of them are good and some of them not, and you might spend time and money looking for a good one, because the only way to find out is to have several sessions with them. And when you do find a good therapist, the progress is still slow – goes by fits and starts. If you can hold out that long, psychotherapy alone can be effective.

I’m not sure why you don’t want to take medication. But then I don’t know the depths of your depression. For me, the medication doesn’t make me HAPPY, but it quells the suicidal thoughts that I would have 24/7. And by lifting me out of that deep, dark hole, it allows me to do better work with my therapist. So for me, a 2-pronged approach is necessary. But it’s not necessarily true for you – you have to think about the pros and cons for yourself.

For me, the pros considerably outweigh the cons, because being relieved of the urge to kill myself is a literally a lifesaver! But if you don’t have those feelings, you might really be OK.

Really hoping that you find something that helps you feel better! :slight_smile: