Former NBA player, college star Turpin dead

The Associated Press ^ | July 9, 2010 |

[ConservativeStatement]

Former Kentucky basketball star Melvin Turpin died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a coroner's report.

The report Friday gave no other information about the investigation, including whether Turpin left a suicide note.

Police and the coroner were called to his North Lexington, Ky., house Thursday afternoon on a personal injury call.

Margaret Burrus, his sister, tearfully told reporters outside her home that her brother was diabetic and trying to keep it under control.

"I didn't know he was depressed or anything," she said. "I would have never said that he would have done this."

[This Just In]

What does Diabetes have to do with his suicide?

My condolences to the family.

[brownsfan]

Dinner Bell Mel.

A former Cavalier - RIP.

[Ingtar]

Kentucky player sadness.

[CaptainK]

Maybe he was having trouble controlling it

[day10]

I remember this guy. Prayers and condolences to his family.

[CholeraJoe]

Diabetics are twice as likely to suffer from depression as non-diabetics. When diabetes and depression occur together, the severity of both are magnified.

[cricket]

What does Diabetes have to do with his suicide?

My first thought per 'reason' offered or assumed - which, is kind of insulting, really, to Diabetics. But perhaps, 'attendent physical problems' or just other problems.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Sad. RIP.

[This Just In]

I would suggest that this is post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy.

There are a number of my family and friends who suffer from Diabetes. I have yet to see a direct correlation between the two as a result to the disease. Grant it, this is anecdotal, but am inclined to agree with crickets opinion.

[FourPeas]

How sad. May he rest in peace.

[traderrob6]

Damn, as a Hoosier I rememeber him, he was gooood.

[CholeraJoe]

From Jacobson's Psychiatric Secrets Chapter 74:

Major depression is more common among adult patients with type I diabetes than in the general population; this increased prevalence is greatest among men. The relationship of diabetes and depression is not unique. It has been widely recognized that depressive disorders are more common in many groups with chronic illness than in community samples. The link is important because depression can have a profound influence on functional health status—perhaps to even greater extent than chronic medical illness. Furthermore, depression in diabetic patients is associated with problems with glycemic control. The magnitude of the effect of depression on glycemic control suggests that depression places diabetic patients at risk for chronic hyperglycemia and more rapid progression of microvascular complications.

From a medical text.

And a peer-reviewed Journal:

Patients who have diabetes mellitus (DM) have high rates of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, with a 14% mean range of 8.5% to 27% [1]. Depression contributes to poor adherence to diabetic regimens, feelings of helplessness related to chronic illness, and poor outcomes. DM and mental illness cause significant disability and increase risk for one another and other disorders, such as coronary artery disease (CAD) [2]. Dyslipidemia, obesity, and lack of exercise may be common denominators. DM is also two to four times more common in patients who have schizophrenia [3], and two to three times more common in patients hospitalized with bipolar disorder (BPD) [4]. The high risk for DM in minority groups is also alarming, with many underserved because of financial and cultural factors.

Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice - Volume 34, Issue 4 (December 2007)

[SeaHawkFan]

Diabetics have lots of health issues that are not helped by being overweight by as much as he was for many years. Can often include having limbs amputated to ward off infection when circulation in the extremities is reduced significantly.

Like many former pro athletes, he was probably not in good financial shape and didn’t want to live the life he thought his future held.

[Persevero]

We never know what someone else is going through. This post reminds me (once again) to be gentle with other people.

[Zakeet]

From Wilkipedia:

A 6'11" center, Turpin was born in Lexington, Kentucky and attended the University of Kentucky for four seasons before being drafted as the sixth overall pick in the first round by the Washington Bullets in the 1984 NBA Draft, and immediately traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a dominant center in college ... as a professional, however, Turpin struggled with his weight, and after five seasons with the Cavaliers, Utah Jazz and the Bullets, he retired. Earning the derisive nicknames "Dinner Bell Mel" and "The Mealman", Turpin was considered one of the biggest busts in a draft class that included future greats such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and John Stockton ... Turpin later worked as a security guard.

[This Just In]

Thank you for the information, CholeraJoe.

[ßuddaßudd]

Gotta ‘blame’ something. Not the person who actually did it . . .
wtf

[This Just In]

It is not my intent to offend anyone here, but I’m sure I will.

I do not place a whole lot of respect or trust in the psychiatric profession.

[DemforBush]

Turpin was a bit before my time, but I do remember him. Heck of a college player, even if his NBA career wasn’t as successful.

Sad to see someone take their life, in any case. Rest in peace, big guy.