Back in May I blogged a post about the link between depression and Type 2 diabetes. In that blog, I expressed my continued confusion about why there should be such a link. New research from Canadian scientists has shed some light on that topic, however. Dr. Jeffrey Johnson and a team of researchers from the University of Alberta examined the cases of more than 32,000 Saskatchewan patients and say that Type 2 diabetes patients tend to have a history of depression extending back before they were diagnosed with diabetes. It could be that some of the factors contributing to a person's developing diabetes are the same factors that cause him/her to experience depression, either before or after diabetes is diagnosed. Those factors include poor diet and lack of physical activity.Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!
Researchers explore depression, Type 2 diabetes link
Back in May I blogged a post about the link between depression and Type 2 diabetes. In that blog, I expressed my continued confusion about why there should be such a link. New research from Canadian scientists has shed some light on that topic, however. Dr. Jeffrey Johnson and a team of researchers from the University of Alberta examined the cases of more than 32,000 Saskatchewan patients and say that Type 2 diabetes patients tend to have a history of depression extending back before they were diagnosed with diabetes. It could be that some of the factors contributing to a person's developing diabetes are the same factors that cause him/her to experience depression, either before or after diabetes is diagnosed. Those factors include poor diet and lack of physical activity.
1. Folks with glucose impairments can trigger the HPA axis, tranmitting fight-or-flight signals. Unfortunately, the corticosteroid release that accompanies this stimulation eventually renders neurons/receptors susceptible to all types of insult and eventual deterioration. This often leads to chronic depression and/or anxiety states.
It's very dry, but a spin thru the chapter recaps in the book "Stress, the Aging Brain, and the Mechanisms of Neuron Death" will fill in the blanks.
Author: Robert M. Sapolsky
Publisher: The MIT Press
Published: September 23, 1992
ISBN: 0262193205
Posted at 6:16PM on Jun 8th 2006 by italiangm