Depression may play a direct role in developing type 2 diabetes, even if you’re not overweight, researchers have found.
Experts have long known that people with diabetes are about twice as likely to suffer from depression compared to people without the condition.
It is also well known that people with depression have a higher risk of developing type 2.
But new research, funded by the charity Diabetes UK, has found seven genetic variants that contribute to both type 2 diabetes and depression.
Leading experts and charities today labeled the findings “tremendously important” and urged health officials to consider depression as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, alongside obesity, inactivity, and a family history of the condition.
Experts have long known that people with the condition are about twice as likely to suffer from depression compared to people without diabetes. It is also well known that people with depression have a higher risk of developing type 2. But new research funded by the charity Diabetes UK has found seven genetic variants that contribute to both type 2 diabetes and depression.
According to the latest figures for Britain, nearly 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in 2021/22. And another 850,000 people have diabetes and are completely unaware of it, which is concerning because untreated type 2 diabetes can lead to complications, including heart disease and stroke.
In the study, researchers used a statistical method called Mendelian randomization to analyze genetic and health information.
They found for the first time that depression directly causes an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but not that diabetes causes depression.
The study found that only 36.5 percent of the effect of depression on type 2 diabetes could be explained by obesity.
Overweight people are significantly more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people of normal weight.
The researchers also noted seven genetic variants that contribute to both type 2 diabetes and depression.
These shared genes play a role in insulin secretion or inflammation in the brain, pancreas or adipose tissue, with changes in these biological processes potentially explaining how type 2 depression increases, they suggested.
While no direct cause has been found for diabetes causing depression, experts still believe that the burden of living with type 2 diabetes may be a factor in developing depression.
Dr. Elizabeth Robertson, research director at Diabetes UK, said: ‘This hugely important study gives us new insights into the links between genetics, type 2 diabetes and depression, indicating that depression may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.
‘Type 2 diabetes is complex, with multiple risk factors – and previous research has shown that the condition is more common in people with depression.
“This study gives us more insight into why and indicates that depression should now be considered a risk factor for type 2.
‘This knowledge can help healthcare professionals improve care and support for people with a history of depression and prevent more cases of type 2 diabetes.
‘We strongly encourage anyone with depression to know their risk of type 2 diabetes by completing Diabetes UK’s free online tool, Know Your Risk, so that they can get the right support to reduce their risk and prevent type 2 diabetes. prevent.’
Inga Prokopenko, professor of e-One Health and head of statistical multi-omics at the University of Surrey, who led the research, said: ‘Our discovery highlights depression as a contributing cause of type 2 diabetes and could help to accelerate prevention efforts. improve.
“The findings are important both for people living with the condition and for healthcare providers, who should consider conducting additional studies to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in people who suffer from depression.”
The study, published in Diabetes Careused data from hundreds of thousands of people in Britain and Finland, including 19,344 people with type 2 diabetes, more than 5,000 people diagnosed with depression and 153,079 people who self-reported depression.
The researchers concluded in the journal: ‘Our results highlight the importance of preventing type 2 diabetes at the onset of depressive symptoms, and the need to maintain a healthy weight in the context of its effect on depression and comorbidities of depression. type 2 diabetes.”
According to the latest UK figures, nearly 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in 2021/2022.
And another 850,000 people have diabetes and are completely unaware of it.
This worries health officials because untreated type 2 diabetes can lead to complications, including heart disease and stroke.
About 90 percent of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes, which is related to obesity and usually diagnosed in middle age, rather than type 1 diabetes, a genetic condition usually diagnosed early in life.