Depression-Diabetes Mechanisms: Urban African Americans

African-Americans suffer from increased prevalence of both type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications, reflecting a combination of psychobehavioral factors as well as metabolic dysfunction. In this process, depression may contribute to both the genesis of type 2 diabetes (through impact on neurohormonal activation, inflammatory mediators, and insulin resistance), and difficulties in management (through decreased adherence to diet plans, medication, and scheduled appointments). The preliminary data from the Grady Diabetes Clinic indicates that depression may be common in African-Americans with diabetes, that depression is a factor in non-adherence, and that non-adherence leads to poor glycemic control - a direct cause of diabetes complications. What is not known is: how treatment of depression could lead to both neurohormonal and psychobiological improvement, with improved patient adherence and glycemic control.