Diabetes And Depression

Adults with diabetes are more likely to experience depression, which may hinder their ability to manage the disease. But a recent study suggests that using cognitive behavioral therapy to address both diabetes control and depression may be beneficial.

The research, published in Diabetes Care, included 87 adults whose type 2 diabetes was poorly controlled despite treatment and who were also diagnosed with depression. All of them received counseling on managing their disease, and then about half participated in sessions where they were taught relaxation techniques, adaptive thinking and problem solving, addressing both diabetes care and depression. After four months, those who received cognitive behavioral therapy were more successful at improving both their depression symptoms and their blood sugar control.