Depression not tied to diabetes control in elderly

By David Douglas

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – There is no strong relationship
between depression in elderly patients with diabetes and the
degree to which they control their blood sugar levels,
researchers report.

“We often assume that elderly diabetes patients who are
depressed will not benefit from clinical intervention programs
unless their depression improves,” Dr. Paula M. Trief told
Reuters Health. “This study suggests that this is not the case;
depressed patients can improve and thus should be included.”

Trief, of SUNY Upstate University, Syracuse, New York, and
colleagues describe their study of about 1600 elderly diabetic
Medicare beneficiaries in the medical journal Diabetes Care.
The participants were taking part in an investigation of a
diabetes case management program.

There was a significant correlation between depression and
diabetes control at the beginning of the study. However,
depression did not predict a change in blood sugar control in
patients, whether they were randomly assigned to the
intervention or to usual care.

Thus, the investigators conclude, depression is not a
factor in diabetes control, and it should not be used to
exclude patients from programs designed to improve how well
they manage their condition.

Also worth investigating, said Trief, is “whether
depression affects other aspects of a diabetes patient’s life;
for example, adherence to diet or exercise, and family
relationships.”

Diabetes Care April 2006.