Depression raises risk of developing diabetes

Depression increases the risk of developing diabetes according to data from a UK study.

The authors say their results suggest the idea people with diabetes go on to develop depression may not be the whole picture - and that those with depression may benefit from diabetes screening.

Researchers screened 1,579 men and 1,418 women from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study for both conditions and found depression to be associated with a 3.9 fold increased risk for diabetes in the men and a 1.5 fold increase in women.

Patients with diagnosed diabetes were included to eliminate the possibility depression was a result of psychological distress from having the disease.

J Diabetic Medicine