According to latest research, depression increases the risk of diabetes in older people. It is the first study that examines the link between diabetes and increasing symptoms of depression. But, it has not been proved whether treating depression reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

In a study that began in 1989, data on 4,700 people of 65 years and above were collected. 10 years down, these participants were evaluated for symptoms of depression. In these 10 years, the depression level showed an increase in almost 50 percent of the people. Later it was found out that, in those participants who showed high levels of depression, the rate of diabetes was high.

It is the high level of the stress hormone cortisol that is responsible for diabetes in people suffering from depression. To explain the process further, insulin helps our body cells to use glucose as fuel. High cortisol levels in our body decreases our muscle’s sensitivity to insulin which results in an increased glucose level in our body.