Depressive symptoms and the risk of type 2 diabetes: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine whether depressive symptoms predict type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed data on depressive symptoms (including recent fatigue, sleep disturbance, feelings of hopelessness, loss of libido, and increased irritability) in a longitudinal, biracial cohort study of 11,615 initially nondiabetic adults aged 48-67 years, who were subsequently followed for 6 years for the development of type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS: At baseline, depressive symptoms were positively associated with BMI, fasting insulin, systolic blood pressure, caloric intake, physical inactivity, and current smoking (all P

CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, depressive symptoms predicted incident type 2 diabetes. This relation is only partially explained by demographic, metabolic, and lifestyle factors. Possible neuroendocrine mediators of the stress-obesity-diabetes relationship require further evaluation in prospective cohort studies that use an established tool to assess depression and incorporate neurohormonal measurements.