Eating disorder symptoms common in many people with diabetes, study finds

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A recent study by the University of Eastern Finland has shed light on a troubling connection between insulin-dependent diabetes and eating disorders.

According to the findings published in the journal Eating Behaviors, one in four patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, aged 16 and older, show signs of eating disorders.

These symptoms aren’t just the typical ones associated with eating disorders, like binge eating or food restriction. A unique and particularly harmful behavior observed in insulin-dependent diabetics involves the intentional skipping or restriction of insulin doses.

Many individuals omit insulin to prevent weight gain, a misconception that leads to short-term weight loss but can dangerously elevate blood glucose levels and disrupt diabetes management.

Doctoral Researcher Pia Niemelä at the University highlights that about 20% of patients reported deliberately omitting insulin as per the meta-analysis, which pooled results from 45 studies encompassing 11,592 individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes. Of these, 2,521 exhibited symptoms of eating disorders.

The prevalence of eating disorder symptoms was found to be higher in women than men, a trend also seen in younger populations.

Interestingly, age was not a significant factor; adults are just as affected as younger individuals, underscoring that eating disorders are not confined to adolescence or early adulthood.

Niemelä points out a significant gap in healthcare for these patients: “In Finland, for instance, we lack a dedicated care pathway for patients who battle both diabetes and eating disorders.” This gap highlights the need for better identification and treatment strategies for this dual diagnosis.

The coexistence of eating disorders and diabetes complicates the management of both conditions, often leading to serious comorbidities and complications related to diabetes.

In the study, various surveys were used to screen for eating disorder symptoms, with the DEPS-R survey showing that 27% of participants exhibited such symptoms.

Understanding and addressing this overlap is crucial. It calls for healthcare systems to develop integrated treatment approaches that can effectively address the intertwined challenges of diabetes management and eating disorder treatment.

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The research findings can be found in Eating Behaviors.

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