Study finds mental health link to diabetes
Researchers have found there is a connection between diabetes and mental health issues.
The research has been presented to an international psychiatric conference in Hobart.
Dr Carol Silberberg, from the University of Melbourne, told the conference that research suggests depression can alter the way the body processes glucose and that, in turn, can complicate treatment of both conditions.
Dr Silberberg said there were high rates of depression, anxiety and eating disorders among people with Type 1 diabetes.
"There's growing evidence that diabetes can actually impact on depression and visa versa, so there's actually what we call a bio-directional relationship and there is some evidence that depression can actually alter how the body processes glucose which can complicate things."
"The main thing at the moment is recognition and, in particular for General Practitioners, we're trying to get the message out there that mental illnesses are a significant problem particularly in patients who have difficult to control diabetes," she said.
It is estimated about 40 per cent of people with diabetes also have high levels of stress.