Having any disease demands high states of alertness, awareness and self -esteem.Alert to symptoms that may need medical assistance or more personal care;Awareness to make healthy decisions and behaviors and self -esteem to assess our actions and know that they will have the best results.This also applies to diabetes, a condition that demands a healthy lifestyle to avoid complications.Now, can you take the reins of your diabetes if you feel depressed?Through the Diabetes Care magazine we have the answers.

A total of 1,064 people with type 2 diabetes were studied in Quebec between 2008 and 2013 through telephone interviews, with the aim of identifying depressive episodes through questionnaires.The result?Almost half of the participants suffered slight depressive episodes, increasing the risk of poor self -care and quality of life.Identification, monitoring and treatment of depression is key in the care of the type 2 diabetic patient.

Depression is common in type 2 diabetes, affects 10-30% of people with this diagnosis.The prevalence rate of depression is almost twice in people with type 2 diabetes compared to those who do not have it.

There is evidence that explains that depressive symptoms are linked to poor diabetes management: the proportion of severe disability between people with diabetes and depression was much greater than in people with diabetes, without depression.Because?Being depressed, they have more difficulties with the self -control of diabetes such as: follow a healthy diet, not smoking, exercising, taking medicines prescribed by the doctor and the monitoring of blood glucose.

Again it is essential to continue with the dissemination of symptoms of depression:

Every day, for two weeks or more, you can observe or live some of these signals of depression:

- lack of interest or pleasure in the things you used to enjoy
- Bajo mood, which lasts more than normal for you
- Feeling anxious, useless or guilty
- Sensation of emotional vacuum, maybe even to the point of not being able to cry
- Perceive slow, tired all the time, or on the contrary, restless and be unable to calm down
- Changes in appetite, which leads to gain or weight loss
- Sleep problems, especially in the early morning, or I want to sleep all the time
- Difficulty thinking, remembering, concentrating on what you are doing, or making daily decisions
- Think about death or suicide
- "A moment to reflect"

Although depression decreases your energy and motivation to maintain healthy behaviors and protectors of deterioration of quality of life, it is little diagnosed in patients with diabetes.

If you are depressed you will discover yourself in a vicious circle: depression;absence of diabetes care;symptoms increases;health complications.The only way to leave is identifying that you are depressed, attending the specialist and support groups that will allow you to take control of your health.