The prevalence of depression is nearly doubled in people with diabetes [1, 2]. This is a major clinical challenge, as depression not only negatively affects quality of life and glycaemic management [3, 4], but is also associated with an increased risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications, and higher mortality rates [5–7].
Type 2 diabetes significantly elevates the risk of CVD, the leading cause of mortality globally [1, 2]. This ‘double threat’ is not a coincidence. Over a century of research has established a strong link between type 2 diabetes and CVD. Early autopsy studies revealed accelerated atherosclerosis in individuals with diabetes, and subsequent epidemiological studies consistently demonstrated a twoto threefold increased risk of cardiovascular complications in those with diabetes [3–5].