Health&Wellness Magazine November 2015 | Page 10

10 & November 2015 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net | Depression and Diabetes When symptoms persist, it is time to seek professional help By Dr. Tom Miller, Staff Writer Some patients with diabetes live within the shadow of a functional depression. That means the depression is not caused by a biochemical imbalance; it is based on the belief that diabetes is something you have to live with and deal with for the rest of your life. Most people have felt sad or depressed at times. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to loss, life’s struggles or injured self-esteem. But bigbluecrossfit.com | bigbluepilates.com when feelings of intense sadness, including feeling helpless and hopeless due to your health, lasts for days or weeks, it is time to take action and seek professional help. More than 15 million American adults experience some form of depression. Among this group are individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes. It is also estimated that one in five youth experience depression at some point during adolescence, and at any given time, about 5 percent of children and teens in the general population are depressed. Depression is more than just occasional sadness. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), people with depression may experience feelings of hopelessness; show a lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities; and have weight changes and sleep disturbances. They find it difficult to concentrate and lack energy to pursue a healthy lifestyle. Depression is the most common mental issue. There is no single answer to the question of what causes it. Medical and health-related conditions can play a role in depression. People with diabetes and depression may need a multidisciplinary approach to their care and treatment, which may include their primary care physician, a psychiatrist, an endocrinologist, a health psychologist, a registered dietitian and a diabetic educator, among various specialists. These professionals will help them gain the benefits of managing the complexity of this condition. Like us @healthykentucky Interventions with most health-related conditions – and specifically for the patient with diabetes – must address questions of motivation and intention and focus on self-management. With diabetes, it is critical to know and understand your motivators, inhibitors and triggers. Motivators are factors that predispose a person to action, such as the perceived need because you wish to maintain good health. You have to see the benefits of treatment, outcome expectancies, rewards/incentives and cues to action. Inhibitors are the barriers to taking positive action. Barriers can be the absence of prerequisites for action, such as funds, skills or support as well as the presence of a real obstacle to managing your condition successfully. Intentions are the primary causes of recognizing and implementing behavior change that results in good control of diabetes. Individuals must have an intention to change, be ready to change in the present and have a particular goal toward which they can work. Triggers are the events that shift a person from being predisposed to action into an action state. A person with diabetes needs to take the steps for change that result in good control. Begin by discussing options with your primary care provider, who can aid in offering referrals to competent professional help. Sources and Resources De Groot, M.; Anderson, R.; Freedland, K.; Clouse, R.E.; Lustman, P. (2001) Association of Depression and Diabetes Complications: A Meta-Analysis. Psychosomatic Medicine, July/August, Volume 63, Issue 4, pp. 619-630. About the Author Thomas W. Miller, Ph.D., ABPP is a Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Scientist, Center for Health, Intervention and Prevention, University of Connecticut, retired service chief from the VA Medical Center and tenured Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky. Chiropractic Pain and Injury Center Pain relief now! Health for a lifetime. HIT YOUR GOALS WITH US. Chiropractic Care, Nutritional Counseling, Corrective Exercise and Spinal Posture Screenings ON YOUR FIRST PURCHASE Dr. Rob Kennedy B.S., D.C. 859-275-1962 340 Legion Rd., Suite #2 Lexington, KY 40504 SAVE 15% CALL TODAY 859.537.8032 Mention this ad for offer. www.cpiclexington.net With diabetes, it is critical to know and understand your motivators, inhibitors and triggers.