Depression and diabetes
According to Dr. Vijayalakshmi - a diabetologist at Mallige Hospital, Bangalore (India), depression can reduce the ability of diabetics to control blood sugar.
People with depression often pay less attention to their diet and blood sugar control, leading to a high risk of complications such as heart disease and nerve damage. Conversely, not controlling diabetes can also make depression worse.
Stress, anxiety and diabetes
Stress and anxiety can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, affecting the maintenance of stable blood sugar levels. Stress hormones such as cortisol can cause hyperglycemia.
People with diabetes are also more susceptible to anxiety than healthy people, which increases the difficulty in controlling diabetes.
Management of diabetes and mental health conditions
To control both conditions, patients need psychological and emotional support, says Dr. Vijayalakshmi. Some useful strategies include:
Overall care: It is important that diabetics not only treat diabetes but also need psychological support. Psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help reduce anxiety and depression, thereby improving the ability to control diabetes.
Group support: Support groups for diabetics and people with mental problems can help reduce loneliness, provide information and strategies to improve mental and physical health.
Exercise and nutrition: Regular physical activities and a healthy diet not only help control diabetes but also improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression.
The importance of mental health management in controlling diabetes
According to Dr. Vijayalakshmi, managing psychological symptoms helps patients maintain healthy habits and take better care of diabetes. This not only helps reduce complications but also improves the quality of life of patients.
