People with diabetes may be more likely to have have depression, which can, in turn, increase their risk of kidney disease. Treating any one condition may improve your outlook with the others.
Diabetes, depression, and kidney disease are distinct conditions, yet they often occur together. They can also influence each other.
Diabetes can make depression worse, and vice versa. Each can contribute to the onset of kidney disease.
It’s important to remember that depression is a treatable medical condition, just like diabetes and kidney disease.
Black and Latin@ communities have a higher chance of developing kidney disease, as well as higher rates of diabetes and depression. One reason for this may be inequities in healthcare.
If you have diabetes and depression, understanding their connection to kidney disease can help you take steps to protect yourself.
Diabetes and depression sometimes occur together. The challenge of living with diabetes can contribute to mental health issues, which can make managing your diabetes feel too overwhelming.
There’s also a link between depression and diabetes-related blood vessel changes in the brain, according to
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that people living with diabetes are
While most people experience moments of sadness, depression is more serious. It can be a persistent feeling of sadness or emptiness that affects your daily life. Symptoms may include:
- loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed
- recurring fatigue
- changes to mood, appetite, and sleep
- thoughts of death or suicide
Not everyone receives a diagnosis, but those who participate in treatment for depression often experience benefits.
Seek medical help immediately if you’re considering acting on suicidal thoughts. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increase the chance of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Around
Diabetes causes several issues that can lead to CKD, such as:
- high blood sugar
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
It begins with persistently high blood sugar, which can stiffen and damage blood vessel walls, increasing blood pressure.
High blood sugar can also cause changes to cholesterol levels, causing your good cholesterol to be too low and your bad cholesterol to be too high.
If your blood sugar, pressure, and cholesterol are all too high, this can interfere with the blood vessels that supply your kidneys, causing CKD.
While diabetes is a known contributor to kidney problems, adding depression to the equation increases your chance of developing CKD.
A 2022 meta-analysis concluded that people with diabetes who had co-occurring depression were more likely to develop kidney disease.
Depression can also contribute to worsening kidney disease in people with diabetes.
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Even though diabetes makes life more challenging, there are still strategies you can try to manage depression.
Depression treatment
Therapy and medication bring relief to many people living with depression. You can try one or the other, or both.
Therapy teaches you skills to manage unhelpful thought patterns. Medication can increase your energy and mood enough to make practicing self-care easier.
Lifestyle changes
Certain lifestyle changes, including creating healthy routines, can positively affect your mental health. Eating nutritious food as often as possible and getting regular exercise are two examples.
A consistent sleep schedule can also help, plus stress-reducing activities like mindfulness exercises or a new hobby.
Personal connections
Family, close friends, and healthcare professionals are examples of people you can talk with about how you’ve been feeling. Starting these conversations can bring you beneficial support.
Kidney disease usually takes time to develop, and it’s often preventable.
Comprehensive treatment
Partnering with a healthcare professional to treat both diabetes and depression can protect your kidney health.
You may have a diabetes and kidney care plan in place. However, depression may interfere, unless your doctor knows you need mental health support too.
Education
It’s helpful to learn everything you can about CKD and how to prevent it. Some essential strategies include:
- quitting smoking if you smoke
- following your diabetes nutrition plan
- avoiding excess salt
- exercising
- maintaining a moderate weight
Following as many kidney-care recommendations as possible benefits your health. Even if it feels overwhelming, making one change at a time can still help.
Screening
Even if you develop CKD, you can still live a long life. Not everyone who develops CKD progresses to ESRD, also known as kidney failure.
Kidney disease usually has no symptoms early on. Many people aren’t aware they have it until they need dialysis.
Routine screening allows you to prevent ESRD by catching kidney disease early enough to slow or stop its progression. Healthcare professionals use blood and urine testing to screen for CKD.
Depression and diabetes can influence each other. They both contribute to kidney disease.
African American and Latin@ people can experience healthcare inequities that may contribute to a higher chance of diabetes, depression, and kidney disease.
All three conditions are treatable. Treatment for even one condition can improve the others.
For example, depression treatment can give you the energy and motivation to stick to your diabetes care plan. This can slow down or even stop the progression of your CKD.
You don’t have to face any of this alone. A healthcare professional can work with you to create a treatment plan for all three conditions.
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.