Pregnancy Diabetes and Depression

2009-02-26 00:15:23 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Health & Fitness, News)

diabetes is linked to depression in some pregnant women

Diabetes and depression are reportedly linked in pregnant women.

WiredPRNews.com — A new study from Harvard Medical School indicates women with diabetes who are pregnant or who recently gave birth suffer from depression at twice the rate of pregnant women who don’t have diabetes. Kathy Backes Kozhimannil, who led the study, is quoted as stating, “One in ten women who had no indication of prior depression, received a diagnosis of depression within a year following delivery.”

Although no official study was done regarding why women with diabetes have a higher risk of depression during pregnancy, Kozhimannil is said to speculate it may be due to the added stress of trying to manage the disease. Dr. Robert Welch, who is chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Providence Hospital in Southfield Michigan, is further mentioned in the report as asserting that the study leaves out important questions such as whether the pregnancies are planned and whether the diabetes is newly diagnosed.

Because those studied were low-income women, Welch is quoted as saying the expense and the lack of monitoring of the disease might add to the depression. However, both Welch and Kozhimannil reportedly agreed the results might be the same in women with higher incomes. Welch is further stated as adding that all moms need a good support system no matter what the income and the support should already be in place before the baby is born.