The typical onset of depression occurs between 20 and 30 years
of age, which is why the results of one study are particularly imperative:
Young adults with a history of depression have an increased risk
of developing type 2 diabetes.
While diabetes and depression often co-exist, depression is connected
with much more devastating conditions in those who suffer from diabetes
as well.
The Link
Researchers compared the health records of some 33,000 patients
with type 2 diabetes over age 20 with double the number of nondiabetic
patients. The records were also used to determine their history
of depression. Results showed:
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Those with newly diagnosed diabetes were more likely to have
a history of depression, compared to those without diabetes
(4.9 percent vs. 3.8 percent, respectively).
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This increased risk remained intact after taking various factors
into account, although it was limited to patients in the 20-50
age range.
Several factors may contribute to the depression-diabetes connection.
For instance, fluctuations in weight spurred on by poor health habits
(i.e. little to no exercise) and taking antidepressants that prompt
weight gain are both prime candidates.
Diabetes
Care May 2005, Vol. 28, Number 5: 1063-1067
Reuters
May 10, 2005
Guest Comment by Dr. Ron Rosedale:
Note from Dr. Mercola: One of the more popular articles on
my Web site is a transcript of a lecture about the importance
of insulin by Dr. Ron Rosedale,
who is an expert on leptin physiology,
a very powerful and influential hormone that has totally changed
the way science looks at fat, nutrition and metabolism. I interviewed
him in 2004 for the book he wrote, The
Rosedale Diet, and I invited him to give a guest editorial
comment on this article.
It is becoming fairly scientifically well-established that defects
in leptin signaling, i.e. leptin resistance, is at the heart of
the misappropriation of fat, especially in visceral tissues. This,
for instance, is partially behind the involvement of leptin resistance
causing hepatic insulin resistance leading to diabetes. Stress is
certainly one of the factors that can cause a chronic elevation
in blood glucose secondary to cortisol, with concomitant metabolism
of that glucose through adipocytes causing spikes in leptin, causing
leptin resistance, which then in turn causes visceral adiposity.
One of the most prevalent and powerful stresses that people
subject themselves to is diet, especially a diet that causes spikes
in leptin, which in turn causes surges in sympathetic nervous system
response (which then can cause elevated cortisone and the initiation
of a vicious cycle). This of course would be a diet high in starches
and grains or excess proteins.
I do not feel that cortisol is a primary cause of excess visceral
fat (as seems to be a common misconception currently with popular
infomercials such as "Cortislim"), since excess visceral
adiposity will continue to worsen, and even begin to initiate, after
"adrenal fatigue" when cortisol levels are abnormally
low (but leptin is still elevated).
Also, the association between obesity and other chronic diseases
such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, arthritis, diabetes and
dementia is certainly contributed to by chronic inflammation, and
again leptin is at the center of this, being itself a cytokine and
also orchestrating the manufacture within adipocytes of numerous
inflammatory chemicals such as TNFa.
Gary Craig's Comments:
In addition to the influence of depression on diabetes, it may
be worthwhile to broaden the perspective and include the possibility
that all or most negative emotions can affect diabetes.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner John Russo has
applied EFT to many diabetic patients, usually with good effect.
In his
case, D-106, he says the following about his diabetic client,
Michael:
Michael has a more relaxed manner about him. He has lost his
need for excessive chatter. Forgiving his aunt for planting the
seed has calmed him ... Forgiving, accepting and respecting himself
for his craving has virtually allowed him to eliminate confections
from his diet ...
As for the lazy pancreas, his insulin need dropped dramatically
from 3 shots per day to about 1 shot per week. His sugar level
in the testing has gone from 400 to about 109 ... His leg ulcer
is healing nicely and the blood pressure to his feet has increased.
The leg and back pain have all but disappeared and he is able
to sleep through the night. His energy level has increased dramatically.
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Gary Craig is a pioneering developer of EFT, a profoundly effective
emotional/mental healing approach. Dr. Mercola attributes much of the
incredible and permanent patient successes at his clinic, The Optimal
Wellness Center, to the fact that EFT is used with every patient to address
all three levels of healing: mind, body and spirit. Of the thousands of
natural treatments Dr. Mercola has studied and used in his 20 years of
practicing medicine, he feels that EFT is the greatest healing technique
that exists.
Read
more about Gary Craig's EFT Course.
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