| Are there ways to prevent depression? | | | | Finally, losing yourself in an activity |
| Some forms of depression may not be | | | | - reading, assembling model cars, |
| preventable since current theory | | | | playing bridge, whatever - allows you to |
| suggests that they may be triggered by | | | | concentrate on something other than |
| chemical malfunctioning in the brain. | | | | worries and lose yourself in the moment. |
| However, there is good evidence that | | | | WALK IT OFF |
| depression may often be alleviated or | | | | Exercise has been shown to be as |
| sometimes prevented with good health | | | | effective in fighting mild depression as |
| habits. Proper diet, exercise, | | | | Prozac. And it's thought to be effective |
| vacations, not overworking, and saving | | | | at keeping depression at bay in the |
| time to do things you enjoy all help | | | | first place. |
| keep the blues at bay. | | | | While there are many different |
| Reduce your consumption of refined | | | | treatments for depression, they must be |
| carbohydrates to avoid low blood sugar | | | | carefully chosen by a trained |
| The brain prefers sugar as its source of | | | | professional based on the circumstances |
| energy. However, when a person eats | | | | of the person and family. Prescription |
| refined sugar or carbohydrates, blood | | | | antidepressant medications are generally |
| sugars tend to rise and fall quickly, | | | | well-tolerated and safe for people with |
| leading to low blood sugar. Symptoms of | | | | diabetes. Specific types of |
| low blood sugar include depression, | | | | psychotherapy, or "talk" therapy, also |
| anxiety, fatigue, irritability and | | | | can relieve depression. However, |
| headaches. | | | | recovery from depression takes time. |
| Increase your intake of omega-3 oils may | | | | Antidepressant medications can take |
| help with depression | | | | several weeks to work and may need to be |
| Omega-3 oils are an important component | | | | combined with ongoing psychotherapy. Not |
| of the membranes of nerve cells. It is | | | | everyone responds to treatment in the |
| important to support nerve health so | | | | same way. Prescriptions and dosing may |
| that neurotransmitters function | | | | need to be adjusted. |
| normally. Omega-3 oils are found in | | | | Treatment for depression in the context |
| wild, deep-water fish (salmon, cod, and | | | | of diabetes should be managed by a |
| sardines) and in nuts and seeds | | | | mental health professional-for example, |
| including walnuts, pumpkin and flax. | | | | a psychiatrist, psychologist, or |
| MAKE TIME FOR FRIENDS, FUN, AND ACTIVITY | | | | clinical social worker-who is in close |
| It's so easy to let friendships and time | | | | communication with the physician |
| with extended family slide, especially | | | | providing the diabetes care. This is |
| when you're already pulled in too many | | | | especially important when antidepressant |
| directions. But having a network of | | | | medication is needed or prescribed, so |
| support is the most important way to | | | | that potentially harmful drug |
| prevent depression. It may be hard to | | | | interactions can be avoided. In some |
| believe that picking up the phone and | | | | cases, a mental health professional that |
| calling your sister will be a deposit in | | | | specializes in treating individuals with |
| your anti-depression bank but it's true. | | | | depression and co-occurring physical |
| It's also true that making time for fun | | | | illnesses such as diabetes may be |
| - as simple as telling a joke at dinner | | | | available. |
| - will put more deposits in the bank. | | | | |