This is the start of Eating Disorder Awareness Week — a crucial week of awareness for a devastating mental illness that can take on many forms. The BBC News reports in a recent article that many of those who struggle with eating disorder behavior are unaware that any form of an eat disorder can be fatal. People with diabetes are at a higher risk for developing an eating disorder because of the intense focus on nutrition that is required in daily diabetes management. While a person with diabetes can engage in traditional anorexic or bulimic behaviors, a specific form, known as “diabulimia” is far more common.
What is Diabulimia?
The Diabulimia Helpline explains “diabulimia” as:
Diabulimia, also known as ED-DMT1, is an eating disorder where one purposefully manipulates or withholds insulin in order to lose weight. Research suggests that over 30 percent of diabetic women between the ages of 15 and 30 engage in this behavior to some degree. Studies show that Type 1 diabetics are two and a half times more likely to develop an eating disorder than other women.
But the consequences can be catastrophic, explains We Are Diabetes, another organization designed to support those with eating disorders and diabetes:
Diabetes and eating disorders are in themselves complex, dangerous diseases; when the conditions are co-occuring the results are devastating. The short term consequences start with muscle atrophy, Diabetic Ketoacidosis and staph infections. Long term, the consequences become permanent: retinopathy, neuropathy, gastroparesis, kidney failure, stroke, coma and even death.
Types of eating disorders:
- Anorexia (or anorexia nervosa) is an eating disorder centered around an obsessive fear of weight gain. Anorexia involves self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Although anorexia is a psychological disorder, the physical consequences are serious and sometimes life-threatening.
- Bulimia (or “Diabulimia” when associated with diabetes) is characterized by recurrent binge eating (the rapid controlled consumption of large amounts of food). Purging may occur with self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, insulin omission or reduction, fasting, severe diets, or vigorous exercise. (Read Lee Ann’s story on diabulimia from NBC News)
- Binge Eating Disorder (also known as Compulsive Overeating) is characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge.
- Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) is a range of other disordered eating patterns that doesn’t fit the other specific types. These conditions are still serious, and intervention and attention are necessary. EDNOS, or other types of eating disorders, may include:
- Eating problems or disordered eating with some, but not all, of the characteristics of an eating disorder; for example, people who severely restrict food intake, but who do not meet the full criteria for anorexia nervosa.
- Chewing food and spitting it out (without swallowing).
- Bingeing and purging irregularly, such as at times of increased stress.
Resources & Support
The following are a variety of resources and support for those struggling with an eating disorder:
- We Are Diabetes
- The Diabulimia Helpline
- Die Or Beat This
- Diabetics with Eating Disorders in the UK
- Christel shares her story in “The Mirror” on diabulimia
- Lee Ann’s article: “How I Learned to Breathe” on her past life with diabulimia
- Amy’s article on Acceptance in Recovery
- Podcast with Emily from DieOrBeatThis on Diabulimia Recovery
- I Have Diabetes & An Eating Disorder at The Guardian
- Lee Ann’s Story on NBC News
- Mike Hoskins shares his story on emotional eating at DiabetesMine
- Binge-Eating Disorder at Diabetes Self-Management
- Emotional Eating with Diabetes by Ginger Vieira
- People with Diabetes Can Eat Anything! by Jane Dickson
- My Life with Diabulimia blog post at TuDiabetes
- Food for Shrink at Your Diabetes May Vary
- Rules Around Food that Do More Harm than Good at Glu
- Scott Johnson talks about emotional eating in podcast at Blogging Diabetes
- Memoir on Diabulimia review at Diabetes Mine
- Forum for Type 2s struggling with eating disorders at Diabetes Daily
- Forum for Type 1s struggling with diabulimia at Diabetes Daily
If you or someone you love is struggling with any type of eating disorder, don’t wait — reach out for help now.