People with depression and diabetes are facing a double-whammy, but new research suggests effectively treating one condition may help significantly improve the other.
In a recent study of 89 low-income minorities that suffer from diabetes and depression, those receiving antidepressant therapy fared much better, according to a recent article published by Reuters. In the study, 45 people were given the antidepressant Zoloft and 44 were given a placebo. There were 39 Hispanic participants and 10 Black participants in each group and one person listed as “other” in the group that received Zoloft. All participants received monthly diabetes education programs.
After six months, the A1C test levels of those receiving the Zoloft fell from 10% to 8%. A1C tests measure one’s blood sugar control over several months. Most doctors say people with diabetes should aim for an A1C of below 7%.
In contrast, the group given the placebo saw a smaller reduction in their A1C test scores from 9.7% to 8.8% during the six months. That’s a 0.9 percentage point reduction.
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