• Depression is a very real condition and is becoming increasingly common in the general population; approximately one in four people will experience depression sometime in their adult life. For people who live with diabetes, this figure is even higher.
• Up to 50% of people with diabetes are thought to also have a mental illness such as depression or anxiety.
• People with depression and diabetes may find it hard to maintain daily diabetes care
What is Depression?
Depression is not just low mood but a serious illness. People with depression find it hard to do normal activities and function from day to day. Depression has serious effects on physical as well as mental health.
Link between diabetes and depression
Research shows that having diabetes more than doubles the risk of developing depression. Living with a chronic condition like diabetes, coping with biological and hormonal factors plus needing to manage the condition on a daily basis may increase the risk of depression.
Depression can increase the likelihood of developing diabetes complications. People with depression may find it harder to