The Connection Between PTSD and Diabetes

Are posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and diabetes connected in some way? PTSD has been found to be associated with numerous different physical health problems such as heart, respiratory, digestive, and reproductory problems and disease. In addition, PTSD has also been found to be related to autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and diabetes.

Studies have found that individuals with PTSD are more likely to have diabetes. The unhealthy behaviors often associated with PTSD (for example, smoking, substance use, poor eating habits) may place a person at risk for developing diabetes. In addition, among people with diabetes, the PTSD-relate stress and unhealthy behaviors may negatively impact the course of a person's diabetes.

Researchers at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University and the VA Medical Center in Syracuse, New York, examined the specific health-related problems among people with both PTSD and diabetes. They identified 14,795 military veterans with diabetes and looked at whether or not the veterans had PTSD, depression, or other psychiatric diagnoses.

Participants were divided into four groups: people with depression and PTSD, people with PTSD but not depression, people with depression but not PTSD, people with other psychiatric diagnoses besides PTSD and depression, and people without any psychiatric diagnoses. Across these different groups, they then examined differences on a number of different health-related factors, such as glycemic control, cholesterol levels (total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL), triglycerides, weight, body mass index (BMI).

The researchers found that compared to other groups, people with both PTSD and depression:

• had worse total cholesterol levels and LDL
• had higher triglyceride levels
• weighed more
• had a higher BMI

In regard to glycemic control, however, people with only depression had poorer glycemic control than people with PTSD or both PTSD and depression.

PTSD and related conditions such as depression can have a major impact on a person's health, and people with a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes, who have PTSD and/or depression, may be particularly at risk for health problems. If you have diabetes and PTSD, make sure that you take steps to effectively manage your diabetes in addition to getting treatment for your PTSD.