Show-Me State Times

A study by researchers at Saint Louis University has found a significant connection between depression and uncontrolled diabetes. The research indicates that patients suffering from depression are more likely to experience difficulties managing their blood sugar levels over time.

SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., the lead researcher and associate professor of health management and policy at SLU, commented on the findings: “The findings indicate a troubling link. Patients with depression were more likely to have uncontrolled blood sugar levels over time compared to their non-depressed counterparts.”

Researchers utilized insurance claim data to understand the prevalence, severity, and complexity of these health conditions. This data also sheds light on the financial impact of diseases like diabetes.

The study focused on claims data in Texas from 2016 to 2019. It was discovered that individuals with both depression and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes faced significantly higher medical costs than those without these conditions.

Ahn noted: “We found that individuals with depression in the early years of our study were significantly more likely to have uncontrolled A1C levels a few years later.” He suggested this could be due to depression impacting adherence to diabetes treatment recommendations.

Both depression and diabetes may share biological origins related to innate immunity overactivation, leading to inflammation and affecting insulin sensitivity through elevated cortisol levels. This connection highlights how lifestyle factors such as unhealthy eating and lack of exercise can contribute to both conditions.

For uninsured individuals, the burdens are greater due to limited access to routine care which often results in increased emergency service use. Ahn emphasized gaps in current healthcare systems where mental and physical health care remain separate, leading to fragmented care.

He advocates for integrating mental health into chronic disease management through collaborative care models. Key steps include increasing healthcare access, investing in community mental health infrastructure, and improving telehealth services.

The study involved other authors from Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice Department of Health Policy and Management as well as Texas A&M University School of Public Health Department of Health Behavior.

Funding was partially provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas for establishing a Rural Health Moonshot Program at Texas A&M Health Science Center. The funders had no involvement in various stages including study design or manuscript preparation.