Beat Depression and Diabetes at the same time!by Christine Armarego
One of the little known facts about Diabetes is that it often goes hand in hand with Depression. In fact in Australia, 1 in 5 people suffer with depression (ABS, 1997) and people with diabetes have twice the change of developing depression as people without diabetes ( Anderson et al 2001 and Egede et al 2003). However the pendulum swings both ways. People with depression can develop type 2 diabetes due to poor lifestyle choices – eating less healthy and being sedentary. Also dealing with diabetes day in and day out can be wearing with medications and regular check ups.
So if you have diabetes and notice that you seem to have lost your zest for living you are not alone. Of course it is important to speak to your GP or Endocrinologist if you are feeling this way as both diabetes and depression are treatable.
Furthermore, there are studies showing that both depression and diabetes are positively effected and even managed with exercise! Is there anything exercise cannot do?
Exercise improves your blood glucose management and your energy levels with even as little as 10 minutes per day (Babraji, 2009). It can also improve your quality of life, not to mention your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, strength and cardiovascular fitness.
Many studies have shown the positive influence of exercise such as walking, cycling or aerobic exercise on mood, but a recent study completed here in Australia at Balmain hospital have shown that resistance training has the same or greater effect on depression as counseling or medication.
Message: It doesn’t matter what type of exercise you choose it will have benefits for both your mood and your Diabetes!
Need help to get started – give us a call at The Glucose Club.
Anderson, RJ et al (2001) The prevalence of co-morbid depression in adults with diabetes – a meta analysis. Diabetes Care 2001 24: 1069 – 1078
Australian Bureau of Statistics. The National Survey of Mental Health and Well being in Adults, 1997.
Egede LE, Independent factors associated with major depressive disorder in a national sample of individuals with diabetes. Diabetes Care 2003; 26: 104- 111
John A Babraj et al. (2009) Extremely short duration high intensity training substantially improves insulin action in young sedentary males BMC Endocrine Disorders 2009
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