Good Morning Paula,

I have read a few studies looking at the link between depression and anxiety because the incidence amongst diabetics is quite common.

However, they have not been able to find a physiological link (no hormone, chemical etc) cause but believe it's simply caused by the stress of the day to day dealing with the disease.

So more of the restricted diet, worry over numbers, constant testing etc that grinds on people and when you worry then your body does release hormones (primarily adrenaline) to deal with the worry/stress/fear and that increases blood sugar levels which then cause more stress and so on.

Like a giant loop that feeds itself and makes it "more depressing".

At least at the moment the answer is, No, diabetes doesn't "cause" depression but our (reaction) to having diabetes "does".

It really can, with the new restrictions on your lifestyle and diet, and you get bad numbers that is a legitimate reason to be depressed, but hang in there, that is a reason to be depressed. This website can help you realize that you have company.

Depression is often seen when diagnosed with a chronic disease. Sometimes it is because we do not know much about it and all of a sudden we have it & now what ?. When diagnosed with any illness or disease at first we are in shock we ask ourselves so many questions, Why me ? How did I get this ? What will I do ? We go through different phases such as denial, anger, sadness (not in that order as for some it can be different) It is when we reach the phase of acceptance that we are able to work better with this. Being diagnosed with a chornic disease is like morning a death, there is a dark cloud that looms over our heads as often doctors do not explain much and just prescribe pills and we are on our own so to speak. Now being diagnosed with a disease such as diabetes were there is a lot of pre conceived notions we fear people will judge us, or say things like "I told you you eat too much" or "See hwat you did to yourself". Some associate diabetes with obesity (I know many people with type 2 who do not even have an ounce of fat and never have) as some diabetes is genetics. So in a way we might be afraid of those around us judging us or pointing fingers at us. I at times get people saying "your diabetic you cannot eat that". It is something not many know about unless they or someone they know has it. It is Taboo for some people to even mention it.When I was diagnosed I thought I was the first one in the family as no one I knew off had it, so I blamed myself like others did so well also. But 1 year later my dad was diagnosed and then we found out some of his sibblings also had diabetes, now we found out because my dad was diagnosed at age 79, he is child # 13 of 15. So even his family never mentioned this to anyone, but it would have been nice to know it is genetid and maybe I could have prevented getting so ill when diagnosed.

But the good thing about diabetes is that it is interactive, we can control a good part of it, by diet, medications & exercise, we can have a good life and a healthier life at that, it becomes a wake up call that we need to eat better and watch portions and so on. I have 18 diseases with no cure and I go through stage of depression when finding more and more and more year after year. But I go through the phases and read as much as I can to learn about the disease so I can do something about it, it becomes a wake up call. Prior to Diabetes I was only known for 12 diseases with no cure, so after diabetes 1 by 1 got added, talk about depression. But diabetes is manageable, some of my other diseases are not, damages are irreversable nor could the conditions improve. I am off medication for diabetes for 1 year now and manage with diet.

I find a large difference between depression and sadness. Sadness comes and goes. I can exercise my personal volition to be happy or sad. Depression is an ongoing medical situation. Let the record show I do not have a medical degree.

I've been in therapy for other reasons since 2012, so it's hard to say if it was due to diabetes. I have good doctor and goosld family and I take each day as it comes.