An Exploration of the Relationship Between Diabetes and Depression Among Immigrants in the United States

Research on health outcomes, especially about chronic conditions, among immigrants is necessary to meet the health care needs of this growing population. This study examines the relationship between diabetes and depression among immigrants using the 2006-2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). We find a correlation between having diabetes and depression among foreign-born individuals. Being a woman, poor, and from specific regions in Latin America are associated with a higher odds of comorbid diabetes and depression. Out of the individuals with both diabetes and depression, the burden of both conditions seems to be concentrated among foreign-born individuals from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. We find a correlation between having diabetes and depression among foreign-born individuals, similar to that found in U.S.-born populations. Both of these conditions contribute to the burden of disease in the U.S, and we question whether patterns of both diseases (co-morbidities) are evenly or unevenly distributed in the immigrant population.