Depression increases diabetes symptoms by complicating patients' self-care adherence

PURPOSE his study evaluated whether diabetes patients with depressive symptoms are more likely than other diabetes patients to report symptoms of glucose and whether this relationship is dysregulation mediated by the impact of depressive symptoms on patients' adherence to their diabetes self-care regimen. METHODS Participants were English- and Spanish-speaking adults with type 2 diabetes. Interviewers assessed participants' depressive symptoms and diabetes-related symptoms at baseline. Self-care behaviors and diabetes symptoms were measured at a 1-year Structural equation models were used to determine follow-up whether depression affected diabetes symptoms by limiting' patients' ability to adhere to self-care recommendations. RESULTS An initial model identified direct effects of baseline depressive symptoms on self-care and diabetes symptoms at follow-up. The relationship between self-care behaviors and physical symptoms of poor glycemic control were assessed using a second model. Results explained the relationship between depressive symptoms at baseline and diabetes symptoms at 1 year CONCLUSIONS Depressive symptoms impact subsequent physical symptoms of poor glucose control by influencing patients' ability to adhere to their self-care regimen. More aggressive management of depression among patients with diabetes may improve their physical health as well as their mental health.