People with type 2 diabetes and depression are at greater risk of suffering complications and should receive targeted treatment, the authors of a new study have said.

A team of researchers in Italy and Canada found that depression in type 2 diabetes was associated with a 2.3-fold risk of developing acute complications, a 1.6-fold risk of developing long-term complications, and a 2.8-fold mortality risk.

They looked at more than 30,000 people with type 2 diabetes with no prior history of depression, from 2008 to 2017. The researchers found at a follow up in 2020 that just over 5,000 people – 16.7 per cent – developed depression.

Being female, older than 65, living in a rural area and having comorbid diseases were found to be predictors of depression.

Led by Paolo Di Bartolo from the Diabetes Unit at AUSL Romagna in Italy, the authors commented: ''Our findings highlight that depression is associated with an increased risk for complications in type 2 diabetes and mortality and should not be neglected. Therefore, it is important to promote screening activities and introduce targeted and personalised treatment for depression in order to reduce the risk of poor short and long-term outcomes of diabetes.''

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