Fed: Depression the hidden side of diabetes experts

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2000
Fed: Depression the hidden side of diabetes experts

Experts say depression is a hidden complication of diabetes, affecting up to one-third
of patients.

Diabetes Australia clinical nurse consultant JOHN KILMARTIN says United States research
shows that depression in people with diabetes is two to three times greater than in the
general population.

He says the psychological aspects of diabetes diagnosis are underfunded and often overlooked
by practitioners including GPs and specialists.

Diabetes Australia educators, psychologists and endocrinologists today launched the
Australasian Society for Psychological Research into Diabetes at a conference in Cairns.

The society will foster academic research but also feed some action back to the coalface
by training doctors to look after the mental health of their diabetes patients.

Mr KILMARTIN says the ultimate aim will be to ensure health staff delivering care to
people with diabetes are trained in psychotherapy, to help their clients cope with the
disease.

AAP RTV rr/sc/jn

KEYWORD: DIABETES (BRISBANE)

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