Diabetes, Depression Doubly Devastating

Srinagar, Nov 18: Kashmir is facing a severe health crisis, with depression among diabetic patients reaching unprecedented levels.

While the recent stats on diabetes found that nearly 8 percent of Kashmiris have diabetes, and 10 percent are pre-diabetic, a major study from Kashmir done earlier found that approximately 40 percent of diabetic patients suffer from major depressive disorder - well above the global average.

The study, which screened 527 diabetic patients, found depression to be particularly prevalent among certain groups, including women, younger adults, educated individuals, and government employees.

The situation is even more severe for patients with Type-1 diabetes, with a staggering 60 percent reported depression, compared to 37.75 percent of those with Type-2 diabetes.

The findings revealed that patients struggling with both conditions had higher fasting blood glucose levels, signalling poorer diabetes management and highlighting how depression can severely impact physical health.

In Kashmir and Ladakh, one in every two adults is obese, with nearly eight out of 100 having diabetes and 10 more at risk as pre-diabetic, according to the latest ICMR-INDIAB study.

The study highlights a sharp urban-rural divide, with urban areas showing higher rates of diabetes (13.1 percent) and prediabetes (15.1 percent) compared to rural regions, where the figures are 5.6 percent and 8.6 percent.

Released on World Diabetes Day at SKIMS in Srinagar, the research underscores a rising trend of non-communicable diseases, with metabolic disorders, obesity, and hypertension notably higher in urban populations, underscoring the health risks linked to urbanisation and lifestyle changes.

This dual burden of diabetes and depression demands urgent action from healthcare providers and policymakers, highlighting the critical need to profess both mental and physical health together.

Experts emphasise the urgency of recognising the deep connection between mental and physical health, stressing that effective diabetes care must include mental health support.

“There is a common link between all non-communicable diseases including depression and anxiety, which are modifiable. The lack of physical effort, excess of processed food and preservatives (neuroendocrine disruptors) and seeds of all non-communicable diseases are sown in childhood or you are born with risks,” said Prof Arshid Hussain, the lead author of the study Depression and Diabetes: An experience from Kashmir published in Indian Journal of Psychiatry.

He said primordial preventive strategies have to be behavioural and start very early in life.

Lifestyle interventions are seen as a key strategy in combating this crisis.

Prof Hussain highlighted the importance of promoting physical activity and social engagement as protective measures against both depression and diabetes.

“Playgrounds are the modern vaccines against these conditions,” he said, underscoring the potential of everyday lifestyle changes to make a profound difference in health outcomes.

Investing in public spaces such as playgrounds, parks, and stadiums can play a vital role in reshaping Kashmir’s health landscape, many believe.

Creating school and social environments that encourage physical activity is crucial for younger generations, who are increasingly vulnerable to both diabetes and depression.

In Kashmir, the spaces for physical activity have shrunk over the years with burgeoning buildings and concrete in all open areas.

Policymakers are urged to invest in public spaces that promote active living and mental wellness, while also ensuring that mental health services are a standard part of diabetes care.

“This dual approach could significantly improve the quality of life for those affected and alleviate some of the burden on Kashmir’s healthcare system,” Prof Hussain said.