THIS week, Depression Awareness Week, we want to raise awareness around depression and diabetes. Your readers might be surprised that depression is twice as common in people with diabetes. Levels of anxiety and eating disorders are also significantly higher in people living with the condition.

Sadly, depression can limit people with diabetes’ ability to manage their condition and poor diabetes control can lead to an increased risk of complications such as blindness, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and amputation.

By giving more people access to emotional support such as counselling when they need it, to reduce their psychological distress, we can help people get back on track with managing their diabetes well and reduce their risk of complications. But three quarters of adults and children with diabetes do not have access to psychological services and haven’t received emotional support when they’ve needed it.

This must change. We know diabetes can be hard to manage and that many people say they sometimes need a bit more understanding, even when they are not affected by depression. People with diabetes in and around Newport should have access to emotional and psychological support.

Diabetes UK Cymru is calling on the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to make sure they commission appropriate psychological support services to meet the needs of people with diabetes in their area.

It is crucial that people with diabetes who are affected by depression do not suffer in silence. If you or someone you know has diabetes and is affected by depression, then contact our Careline on 0345 123 2399.

Dai Williams, Director, Diabetes UK Cymru