Last year I suffered some losses and had a bit f depression and ended up in the hospital for 11 days with stomach and intestine issues. One lady Dr, I think she was an endocrinologist told me that 90% of our serotonin is produced in the stomach and intestines. My Dr. determined that I had tested positive for a bacteria that causes ulcers and treated me with antibiotics. I was also diagnosed with diabetes during my hospital stay and given insulin each day.
Upon leaving the hospital I took steps to fight my depression and deal with my grief in a more positive way and all my systems returned to normal.
I was curious to see if there was a link between low serotonin levels and diabetes and it turns out there is. I know of three individuals who were diagnosed as diabetic early in life that had no apparent genetic predisposition but all three did have issues with depression. I didn't find much on this topic outside of the fact they have made a connection. Does anyone know anything about this?
I’m a T1 diabetic since infancy. I’m generally a positive, optimistic person. I get down at times. Usually short lived.
I do notice if I’m under undo stress or worry my glucose is harder to control. It’s like a house of cards, one misplaced card and it all falls apart.
Not sure about serotonin levels, in me.
YMMV.
Being diagnosed with Diabetes, and coming to grips with all the physical and emotional baggage that accompanies the disease is mind-bending. Depression quite naturally follows a big diagnosis like that, and some doctors immediately add an antidepressant to the pile of new prescriptions.
Reading just now about serotonin was enlightening. I knew it was a neurotransmitter, which means it’s part of the chemical soup that allows brain cells to communicate. It’s related to sleep, and I know it interacts with caffeine, which is why so many of us are addicted to that morning coffee.
Now I’ve learned it’s also in the GI tract, bossing around the guts.
Insulin is a hormone, telling all the cells in the body how to take up sugar, and use it for energy.
Clearly, we have all kinds of chemical messengers swimming around in our bloodstream! Medical science probably recognizes only a handful. Like all of Life, everything is a balance, and good health is the outcome of this perfect balance.
The body’s response to stress includes release of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Cortisol’s effects include gluconeogenesis (making glucose) as well as an indirect increase in glycogenolysis (glycogen —> glucose).