Study links mental health and diabetes

Researchers from the University of Melbourne have found there is a connection between diabetes and mental health.

Presenting the findings at an international psychiatric conference in Hobart, Dr Carol Silberberg said that the research suggests depression can alter the way the body processes glucose and that, in turn, can complicate treatment of both conditions. She also noted that there are high rates of depression, anxiety and eating disorders among people with Type 1 diabetes.

"There's growing evidence that diabetes can actually impact on depression and visa versa, so there's actually what we call a bio-directional relationship and there is some evidence that depression can actually alter how the body processes glucose which can complicate things."

The findings revealed that diabetic adults in Australia were at a 43.4% risk of having an occurrence of psychological distress, while those without diabetes had a 32.2% risk of prevalence.

The study also drew a connection between diabetes and smokers having a higher risk of suffering from a mental disorder.

[via Diabetes.co.uk]