Something that has caught my eye recently has been the sudden media exposure of a situation most common amongst young diabetic women as 'diabulimia' - the practice of lowering or completely omitting insulin as a way of losing weight and staying 'healthy'.
I came across this article, from the ABC from back in June this year which explains the fight to have diabulimia recognised as a phycological and medicla condition. Whilst eating disorders are usually classified as a psychological condition, it's time diabulimia be seen as a medical condition on top of this. The article claims that women with Type-1 diabetes are twice as likely to develop an eating disorder than those without Type-1 diabetes.
The risks of eating disorders coupled with type-1 diabetes are significant. The constant high-level blood sugars will cause ketones, and possibly extended ketoacidosis (acid within the blood stream), resulting in severe damage to kidney tissue. On top of this, the long term complications of diabetes are put at further risk as a result of prolonged, uncontrolled diabetes.
However, do doctors and specialists help or refer patients who they suspect to be 'diabulimic'? Most probably not, as it would probably be a situation where the patient would not see a doctor in the first place. Without support and treatment, the condition poses a very serious risk to the health and lives of those who have the disorder. If the patient does see their specialist/doctor, the situation is then in their hands - and they may not be well enough prepared or trained for this type of issue.
As with most diabetes specialists and GP's, the lack of counselling and psychological support is apparent everywhere. For a person who has diabetes and is subject to 'diabulimia', the situation is dire.
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3 comments:
It's true this is a big issue. I've known people that suffer from diabetes-related eating disorders (even myself many years ago) and too often it is not treated with the delicacy and care needed. Often, also, I've found that people (not just girls) exhibit this behavior so as to feel somewhat in control of their lives. By using diabetes to control their body size, they some how feel that they are not being controlled by the diabetes, even if it's actually the other way around.
So, I wish all people suffering from diabulimia the best of care and hope for the future.
Hi Kel,
Thanks for the comment. I first saw a fairly good review of this problem by none other than Bill O'Reilly (Fox) back in June, and then slowly been seeing more publicity made.
It's very true that once you start using diabetes as a way to control your weight, people feel like diabetes have taken hold.
The major problem is that care is not there, and patients are stuck in the medical model - rather than being forwarded for relevant psychological care. Then, even if they are, the care and delicacy as you rightly say is not given enough attention.
Lets hope this dire condition can be treated well enough in the future!
Alex
I have beena type 1 diabetic for 10 years now (currently 17) and have recently discovered i have diabulimia. Unfortunatly i have already spent a lot of time in hospital and I have experienced DKA a number of times in the last three years. This battle of mine was not recognised for a very long time and as a result my health is at serious risk. I am currently seeking help with this disease, but the damage has already been done, I used my eating disorder as a way to take control of my life.
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