Objective: To investigate the incidence of depression in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.
Materials and methods: One hundred newly diagnosed (4 - 12 weeks) T2DM participants were evaluated for depressive symptoms by using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Blood glucose (HBA1C), urinary albumin, BMI, and blood pressure were measured. Sexual function was evaluated by a self-score on IIEF-5 Questionnaires in male participants below 60 years of age.
Results: Twenty-eight (28%) of these had depressive scores, 18 (18%) had mild scores, six (6%) had moderate scores, and four had (4%) severe ones. In those who took oral medication, the percentage of depression was 18.5% (10/54) and in those who were treated by insulin the percentage was 39.1% (18/46). The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), HBA1c, and urinary albumin were higher in those with depression. The SDS score was negatively correlated with age and annual household income (r = 0.151,0.139, P < 0.05); 17% of the (8/48) males below 60 years of age was diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED) by II EF-5score < 20 and the severity of depressive symptoms was negatively correlated with II EF-5score (r = 0.131, P < 0.05).
Conclusion: These findings indicated that depressive symptoms are common in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics. A variety of factors could be influencing the severity of depressive symptoms.
Keywords: Diabetes; depression; erectile dysfunction.