There are many different treatments available – discuss them with your healthcare team and together you can work out what is right for you.
|
Depression is an illness just like any other and just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. You should understand this and with the right help you can get better. |
Diet, physical activity and relaxation
Missing valuable nutrients can make you feel tired and run down. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of your diabetes control and will help with depression. Eating regularly is important too. Physical activity also benefits both diabetes and depression. If you have been inactive, gentle activity such as walking is recommended to begin with. Tension, stress and anxiety are all associated with depression. Physical activity also releases endorphins (happy hormones) from the brain and can help to make you feel a lot better.
Relaxation time should be built into your everyday life. Yoga, reading, walking and listening to music can be beneficial, or find something that you enjoy doing.
Medication for depression
There are many different types of medication available for treating depression. Most of them work by altering the way certain chemicals work in the brain. These treatments can only be prescribed by your doctor. You may not feel better immediately – some can take up to three to four weeks to begin to help. It is important to continue taking the prescribed medication as advised by your doctor to either give them time to start working or to prevent relapse, even if you feel as though you have recovered.
Your healthcare team should carefully monitor your blood glucose control when you are taking prescribed medication for depression. It may have an impact on your diabetes and so the dose of your diabetes medication may need adjusting. Medication can also affect your hypo awareness (when your blood glucose levels are low), so more frequent blood glucose monitoring may be needed.
General recommendations
You should let your doctor or pharmacist know that you have diabetes, as well as any additional conditions such as epilepsy, glaucoma, liver disease, kidney or prostate problems.
Tell your pharmacist that you are on medication for depression and diabetes if you need to buy a medicine over the counter.
If you are pregnant, breast feeding or trying for a baby tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Alcohol is not advised when taking medication for depression.
 Don’t feel alone, embarrassed or guilty – depression is understood by health professionals and is treatable.
– Person with diabetes |
Complementary therapies
Diabetes UK is unable to recommend the use of complementary therapies, unless used on the advice of your healthcare team, as there is still a lack of clinical evidence of their effectiveness and safety for people with diabetes.
It is important to discuss any complementary therapy you are considering with your healthcare team. If you decide to use one, as with all treatments, advise your doctor of any side effects you experience.
Never stop taking insulin or prescribed medication without the advice of your doctor and continue blood glucose monitoring as advised. You should always inform your complementary therapist of any medical conditions and prescribed medication you are taking. Some complementary therapies, such as herbal treatments, can affect how other medications work, eg St. John’s Wort can affect warfarin and the oral contraceptive pill.
Reviewed December 2009
Next review December 2010