Written By Catherine Price

“Given the responsibilities that come with diabetes—the monitoring, the medications, the constant self-control—it’s not surprising that people who have the condition are twice as likely to suffer from ­depression as those who don’t. “It’s a 24-hour ­disease,” explains John Anderson, M.D., president- elect of medicine and ­science at the American Diabetes Association. “Anything that puts that type of increased burden on a person can increase the risk for depression.”

Famous Faces of Diabetes

But here are two things you might not know: ­People with depression are 60 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and a recent study from the University of Washington found that those who suffered from both diabetes and depression were twice as likely to develop dementia as people with diabetes alone. The exact causes for these findings are unknown, but experts theorize that inflammation brought on by high levels of stress hormones could lead to insulin resistance, and that damage to tiny blood vessels caused by high blood sugar might also affect the brain. It’s enough to make you, well, depressed.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent or ease depression. The first is to recognize its signs: In addition to the obvious (feeling sad or down much of the time), you might feel overwhelmed by daily tasks (including your ­diabetes care), experience appetite changes, or have unexplained ailments like back pain or headaches.

Quiz: Are You at Risk for Diabetes?

If you suspect you may have depression, see your health care provider: She can give you a quick screening questionnaire and recommend treatment options, which may include counseling, lifestyle modifications like ­exercise, or therapeutic drugs. According to new research, treating both conditions together can result in a better outcome for your blood sugar and your mood.”

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