A recent study has found that older people who have symptoms of depression are more likely to develop diabletes.

The study was published in the April 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Lead researcher Mercedes R. Carnethon said ‘Older adults who report high levels of depressive symptoms are more likely to develop diabetes over time than older adults who have lower depressive symptoms’.

The study included around 4,700 people over the age of 65 who were not diabetic in 1989 when the study started. The researchers scored symptoms of depression on a scale of zero to 30, and the rate of occurrence of diabetes was higher among those with a score of eight or more. Earlier studies have found a similar connection.

Carnethon postulated that there could be several causes for this relationship. ‘Individuals who are depressed may be less likely to engage in healthy physical activities that would protect against the development of diabetes. They may be less likely to sleep well, have healthy diets, all of which are risk factors for developing diabetes’

Other factors could also be involved. People with both diabetes and depression are likely to exhibit blood markers of inflammation like C-reactive protein, according to Carnethon. At this time, it’s impossible to draw a definite cause and effect link, and more research is needed to conclusively identify why this relationship exists.

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