Depression And Diabetes
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It is one of the strangest associations in medical research -- the idea that depression and diabetes are linked together. We know that major depression affects 14.8 million American adults and diabetes affects 10 million adults, but at least four studies have shown a link between the two diseases.
Now, a report which has looked at over 65,000 patients has found that women with depression were at a 17% greater risk of developing type II diabetes and the risk was even greater if they took antidepressants. It was 25% in these cases.
For a woman to have type II diabetes, they had a 20% greater risk of developing depression. Those on insulin where 53% more likely to be depressed.
But after all the research, the scientists found that neither diabetes nor depression caused the other problem, they were simply related to each other.
What this is saying is that just because you have diabetes it does not mean you will be depressed or vice versa.
Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor
