Risk of Depression and Suicide in Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Although mental disorders in diabetics are more prevalent than in the general population, an increased prevalence of depression, frequently leading to suicide, has been reported in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to assess the risk of depression and suicide in diabetic patients. The prevalence of depression and suicide is high among diabetic individuals. Risk factors including history of depression, presence of comorbidity, younger age, lower education, low social support, presence of diabetic complications, poor glycemic control, and physical impairment, all increase the risk of depression among diabetics. On the other hand, female sex, the intensity of childhood trauma, a history of alcohol misuse, depression, lower level of education, comorbidities, higher blood glucose levels, and previous history of suicide, all increase the risk of suicide among diabetics. Additionally, a bidirectional relationship exists between depression and diabetes. For example, depression can cause diabetes due to the disease's psychological and psychosocial impact, microvascular brain lesions, higher glutamate levels, poor glycemic control, and medication adherence. On the other hand, diabetic patients develop depression due to the stress associated with disease management. This paper concluded that depression and suicide are both prevalent conditions among diabetic patients. The higher risk of depression and suicidality in diabetic patients emphasizes the critical need of integrating depression screening and treatment into primary healthcare settings to avoid fatal conditions in the future. However, more research is required in this area.

Keywords: diabetes; diabetic depression; diabetic depression and suicide; suicidal ideation; suicide risk in diabetes.