On psychology and psychiatry in diabetes

Abstract

Managing diabetes requires dealing with diet, medications, and self-monitoring, besides other pressures of daily living. It, therefore, requires collaboration among individuals with diabetes, their families, and significant others including the social milieu in which they reside. Psychological stress plays critical role in the cause and course of diabetes, particularly in mastering various self-management skills, which are essential for adequate management of diabetes. It is possible to measure and to resolve such stressors. Besides the patient and the family, the built environment which the person occupies must be conducive for healthy living. This is a key component in providing an appropriate physical and psychosocial environment. Lacunae in any of the built environmental parameters compromise social and psychological well-being. Psychiatric conditions are also common in diabetes. Both depression and distress are bi-directionally associated with diabetes. The presence of one condition increases the risk of developing the other. In addition, medications used for the treatment of psychiatric conditions have adverse effects on body weight and insulin sensitivity. One must carefully weigh the risk and benefit of the drug class with potential adverse effects. Therefore, identification and management of psychological and psyciatric aspects in subjects with diabetes is an integral and critical component in treating subjects with diabetes.

Depression and Associated Risk Factors Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Cross Sectional Study on a Convenience Sample from the Diabetic Center, Khamis Mushait; Saudi Arabia

“…Some recent studies have reported that Identification and management of psychological and psychiatric aspects in subjects with diabetes is an integral and critical component in treating subjects with diabetes. 49 An international study, carried out in four independent centers in India assessed the impact of a trained but not qualified non-psychiatrist in coordinating and forming a fulcrum between the patient, the family and the consultant endocrinologist/diabetologist. It was shown that the outcomes of both depression and diabetes could be improved by the employment of a clinical care coordinator.…”

Adjusting health care: practicing care for socially vulnerable type 2 diabetes patients

“…patient education, exercise classes) directed at controlling blood sugar levels and other risk factors for complications and thereby minimize diabetes' consequences on health [14]. Gender and family relations are related to how life is lived with type 2 diabetes and the resources that a patient with diabetes is able to mobilize to care for the disease [15][16][17].…”