Depression and diabetes mellitus are two commonly encountered
clinical conditions in primary care [1]. People with
type 2 diabetes are commonly diagnosed and largely managed
in the primary care setting, with fewer of them being
referred for specialist care [2]. Co-morbid depression worsens
glycemic control, and is associated with more severe and
rapid development of complications, but is often undiagnosed
and untreated [3–6]. Many of the somatic symptoms of depression
(e.g. appetite change resulting in weight gain or loss, loss
of energy and difficulty concentrating) could be attributed to
diabetes making it difficult to ascertain any specific contribution
of co-morbid depression (Table 1). Minor (subclinical)
depression has been used to describe the presence of depressive
symptoms, which are not severe enough to warrant a
diagnosis of clinical depression according to standard criteria