Can depression trigger diabetes?
it is true
Lao Zhang is 60 years old this year and retired from his original job.
Suddenly there was no one to direct, and Lao Zhang felt very disappointed.
In a flash, five months passed. From the first hope that an old person would come, he didn't like to talk, his body was tired, he woke up early in the morning, and he became fat and thin.
After going to the hospital for an investigation, he was diagnosed with diabetes.
The doctor said it was related to Lao Zhang's depression.
Can depression also cause diabetes?
Today, Du Ruiqin, director of the Endocrinology and Rheumatology Department of the Rocket Army Special Medical Center, came to talk with you about the relationship between depression and diabetes.
Why depression can cause diabetes
Director Du Ruiqin said that depression is a mental disorder characterized by significant and lasting depression.
Patients usually have typical symptoms such as depression, loss of interest and pleasure, lack of energy, or fatigue.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin secretion defects or insulin resistance, and is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia.
How did one diabetes, one depression, two seemingly inconsistent diseases come together?
It turned out that the results of the study showed that depression patients eat irregularly, gain weight, and decrease physical activity, which causes obesity and insulin resistance, and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.
At the same time, depression-induced neuroendocrine, such as the increase in the activity of the adrenal cortical axis or the autonomic nervous system, can also cause the patient’s abdominal fat deposition, increased plasma triglycerides and insulin, and insulin resistance syndromes such as decreased insulin sensitivity. These are all 2 Risk factors for type diabetes.
Lao Zhang suffered from diabetes due to depression, and the distress of diabetes may lead to further depression.
As for all people with diabetes, they should beware of depression from the beginning of diabetes. If you find that you have the above symptoms of depression, don't be careless and treat it in time.
Because depression in turn affects blood sugar control, aggravates diabetes and accelerates the appearance of complications.
High mortality from diabetes caused by depression
As mentioned above, depression and depression-related symptoms can lead to diabetes.
In contrast, studies have found that the prevalence of depression in diabetic patients is significantly higher than that of non-diabetic people (Chinese Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Control Guidelines 2007), and the mortality rate of diabetic patients with depression is higher than that of diabetic patients without depression 54%.
At present, it is believed that the increase of blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes leads to a stress-like reaction in the body, which increases plasma cortisol, glucagon, growth hormone, etc., and long-term hyperglycemia triggers changes in cortisol activity.
These changes in turn act on the patient, causing depression and depression in the patient.
At the same time, poor blood sugar control, strict dietary requirements, high exercise requirements, and high treatment costs can also easily lead to depression in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes patients with depression have poor blood sugar control, and microvascular and macrovascular complications are significantly higher than those of non-depressive diabetic patients.
Evidence shows that negative emotions such as depression and anxiety reduce the self-management ability and compliance of diabetic patients, and the ability to deal with interpersonal relationships and self-care ability in life decline. These effects will cause the patient's condition to deteriorate.
How to distinguish depression and low mood?
The treatment of depression focuses on prevention. Early recognition of the initial symptoms of depression, starting from the cause, eliminating the factors that directly cause or inducing depression, and avoiding delays in the treatment of depression as a syndrome, causing serious consequences.
Depression is different from general low mood. The specific manifestations mainly include:
(1) Low mood, generally characterized by the laws of "morning heavy and evening light" and "spring and autumn seasons and light summer";
(2) Slow thinking, that is, decreased memory, slow brain response, etc.;
(3) Reduced activities, reluctant to participate in social activities, prefer to be alone;
(4) Frequent feelings of anxiety and guilt (worried about adding burden to the family);
(5) Sleep disturbance, with early waking as its typical manifestation;
(6) There are many physical symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations, chest tightness, gastrointestinal discomfort, and constipation;
(7) Have self-defeating, disgusting, suicidal mentality or behavior.
It is worth mentioning that the performance of many patients is not typical. The core depressive symptoms are often hidden in other psychological and physical symptoms, and physical symptoms are most likely to cause misdiagnosis.
Appropriate self-adjustment is necessary for symptoms of depression, including maintaining a calm mood, lifting the mental burden, having a regular daily life, and insisting on physical exercise. For patients with diabetes, attention should be paid to alleviating various factors such as anxiety and psychological stress. The secretion of glucocorticoids can prevent or improve depression; for patients with diabetes and depression, it should be recommended to develop a healthy lifestyle to prevent diabetes complications.
In addition, a harmonious and happy life or work environment can help improve depression symptoms and blood sugar control.
However, if through the above methods, the patient’s symptoms persist and cannot be relieved, he needs to see a psychological or mental clinic, seek professional doctor’s help, and choose medication.
Text/Mo Peng (Rocket Army Characteristic Medical Center)