New research reveals two-way link between diabetes issues and mental health
A recent large-scale study has uncovered a concerning bidirectional relationship between complications from diabetes and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. The study, published in Diabetes Care, analyzed insurance claims data for over 500,000 individuals with type 1 or 2 diabetes as well as more than 350,000 people without the disease.
The findings show that those who experienced chronic complications like heart attacks or strokes from their diabetes were between two to three times more likely to develop a mental health disorder. Strikingly, the reverse was also found to be true – individuals with existing mental health issues faced up to 2.5 times higher risks of sustained diabetes complications.
According to the researchers, this link could be both direct, through detrimental effects on physical and brain health respectively, as well as indirect through shared risk factors such as obesity and poor blood sugar control increasing chances of both conditions. Preventing or treating either issue may help reduce odds of developing the other.
Notably, the study found younger type 1 diabetes patients faced greater risks of chronic complications while type 2 diabetics were more prone to mental health disorders. The bidirectional relationship held true across all age groups, highlighting the important interplay between physical and mental wellbeing.
By shedding light on this concerning two-way relationship, the findings underline the need for holistic care approaches addressing both medical and psychological aspects to simultaneously curb multiple health problems. For those living with diabetes, prioritizing maintenance of physical as well as mental health could help avoid a downward spiral of deterioration.
