Its funny how everyone associates diabetes with being overweight. This may be a case of which came first, the chicken or the egg...certanly having highs and lows in your blood sugar can make you feel lousy and depressed...feeling depressed can make people eat things that are not health or eating "comfort foods" and this can wreak havoc on your blood sugar...bottom line here is either way, you should look at making some simple changes like eating lots of veggies (fiber is great to stabiliz blood sugar) throughout the day. This will improve your energy, immune system, etc
Start exercising if you dont already, just begin with walking every day even if for only 5 min.
Great move to watch.."fat, sick and nearly dead" It is so important to feed your body.."let food be thy medicine" Hippocrates

depression does go with this disease at times. And it has been shown that getting diabetes does not mean you did not take care of yourself.

I had it in control for almost 10 years, diet and exercise only, but went thru a very stressful moment in life and the diabetes went totally out of control...numbers up to 1000, surprised I was still functioning, and now I must take meds since the disease does progress.

Your diabetes will be in control, I do not go for the idea of being 'reversed", you will always have to monitor what you eat, portion controls etc but it can be done....you can do this

I feel quite depressed since my diagnosis and am trying to decide whether it is sugar withdrawal or temporary while I am adjusting. All the same I seem to cry alot and I am not sure whether to mention it to the doc or not. I feel quite alone and I am hopeful that the support here will be just what the dr ordered.

Do talk to your doctor regarding your depression, don't let it go, talk to him/her about it

Depression is not something to hide or be ashamed of. It's not something you caused. Don't let anyone make you feel like you should "just snap out of it" or "stop feeling sorry for yourself."

See a doctor for help. Most people can feel better in a matter of weeks on medication that has few side effects. Your doctor should know which ones are least likely to affect your blood sugar numbers.

For me, my diabetes started after I spent four years steroid-dependent for my asthma. I've been off the steroids for a couple of years now and I still have blood sugar issues, so, based on my experience, I would say that, no, getting your depression under better control would not automatically reverse your diabetes. However, everyone is different and it's really impossible to tell how your body will react. I hope for your sake that your diabetes does get controlled with just diet and exercise. I think janlajohn has it right. This does seem to be a "chicken or the egg" type of question.

Annie

In my experience, diabetes can certainly aggravate existing conditions like depression and anxiety. I don't know if there's a physical connection but if you are prone to ruminative thinking, being handed a diagnosis like diabetes could certainly make you feel even more down.

You don't mention if you are on any meds for depression but I have read quite a few comments from people who gained so much weight from their SSRI or mood stabilizer drugs (like Seroquel) that they indeed became diabetic afterwards. My guess is that in those cases, one is already predisposed to diabetes but the side effect of the medication kinda "pushed it over the edge". If that's your situation, you may want to discuss it w/your doctor but do not stop taking a medicine without proper review from a professional.

An interesting subject. For myself, I have had depression for a very long time. At one point I was put on medication for it (what a huge mistake). When I was told I had diabetes, August 20 2011, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I now go through bouts of depression, but I cannot say for sure it is connected with my diabetes, though I do think a lot about the future and possible complications of diabetes. I think diabetes can be a lonely disease. Friends and relatives of mine just don't 'get it', in my estimation, and I can feel isolated much of the time. However, since I have found this place, Daily Strength, I feel I have found people that do 'get it'

I've been chronically depressed this year - depressed to the point of suicidal; I've been on (3) anti-depressants, with little appetite, sporadic sleeping schedules (insomnia), and stress levels that were off the charts. This led to my diabetes diagnosis on Aug. 12th 2011 when I almost collapsed; the EMTs came to my house said I was on verge of a coma. I had to have someone call 911 because my mouth was so dry I couldn't speak coherently. There's no genetic connection; my diet wasn't the best but I wasn't eating much anyhow. I've read that there's a connection between the two; it doesn't matter which presedes which but one can trigger the other...

hi mal, Im a strong believer that my depression has been a precursor to my diabetes. I have struggled with depression all my life just about since I was 14yrs old. but didin't start on antidepressants till i was in my 30's Im in my 50's now.
I really believe that when you suffer from any type of depression that lasts over a couple of years it begins to compromise your immune system. that's just my take on it,

Interesting thread. Since both depression and diabetes are both problems with imbalances of chemicals/hormones. Perhaps when one gets out of whack it effects the others? Some food for thought here...