According to a new research, diabetes patients have a higher risk of depression than non-diabetics. Dr. Leonard Egede and his colleagues at the Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, conducted a study on 11,000 U. S. veterans with type 2 diabetes, and it was found that the subjects had a higher average hemoglobin A1C level (a standard measure of long-term blood sugar control) who diagnosed with depression consistently. 30% of diabetes patients also suffer from depression at some point.

Because of depression, it is harder for diabetic people to control their blood sugar levels. Dr. Leonard Egede said in a written statement, “Our study shows that depression is a major and important comorbidity in people with type 2 diabetes.”

Egede noted that even a slightly higher hemoglobin A1C level, sustained over time, can raise the risk of diabetes complications.

The findings of study were reported in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.

The findings show that dealing with depression makes it harder for diabetics to manage their blood sugar with lifestyle measures and medication.