(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Depression and diabetes often go hand in hand. Now, researchers say patients with diabetes can improve their health by addressing their depression.

Investigators from the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the University of Michigan Health System evaluated a one-year program that included behavioral therapy sessions over the telephone and a walking program. The researchers studied 291 patients with type 2 diabetes who also experienced depressive symptoms.

Results showed the intervention lowered patients' blood pressure, increased their physical activity levels and eased their symptoms of depression. In fact, the patients saw more than a four-point improvement in systolic blood pressure and could walk about half a mile more per day after the program. They also reported improved quality of life.

At the conclusion of the program, 58 percent of the patients who received the intervention had depression symptoms that were in remission compared to just 39 percent of the patients who did not receive counseling.

The researchers say the cognitive behavior therapy helped the patients address negative thoughts and behaviors that make it difficult to manage their disease. The physical activity portion of the program utilized pedometers to help patients set walking goals and monitor their success.

“Health systems should consider routinely offering structured telephone psychotherapy to their patients with diabetes and depression,” senior study author Marcia Valenstein, M.D., M.S., an associate professor of psychiatry at the U-M Medical School and VA research scientist, was quoted as saying. “Patients with depression and additional chronic medical conditions do better if their depression is addressed first, if it is addressed systematically, and if exercise is also encouraged. Delivering therapy by telephone makes it feasible to reach large numbers of patients who may not attend traditional in-person appointments.”

SOURCE: Medical Care, April 2011