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Bulimia and Type 1 Diabetes
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
Type 1 Diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is a condition in which the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone in the body that is needed to transfer glucose from the bloodstream into the various cells of the body for energy. Without insulin, the cells essentially become “starved” and glucose remains in the blood stream, which can cause high blood sugar levels.
Type 1 diabetes is often referred to as juvenile diabetes because it is typically diagnosed in childhood. Type 1 diabetes is genetic in nature compared to type 2 diabetes, which results from environmental influences.
Eating Disorders Can Be Triggered by Type 1 Diabetes
Individuals with type 1 diabetes will have to follow a strict medication and diet protocol to ensure their blood sugar is stable and to effectively manage this disease. The hyper-focus on food, calories, blood sugar numbers, weight, etc. can be triggering to a person who may also be susceptible to developing an eating disorder.
Type 1 diabetes can also co-occur with an eating disorder, such as bulimia, and this is often referred to as diabulimia. Diabulimia refers to a disorder often seen in men or women with type 1 diabetes who attempt to purge calories through the form of insulin restriction.
A preoccupation with weight and body concerns can lead to the mismanagement of type 1 diabetes, which can result in severe medical complications. Some of the medical risks associated with type 1 diabetes and bulimia include increased risk of developing infections, increased risk of diabetes complications, such as cardiovascular disease, renal disease, eye and nerve damage, and more.
Professional Treatment Teams are Available for Support
The combination of chronically elevated blood glucose levels along with the symptoms and behaviors associated with bulimia can be overwhelming to deal with. An individual who is intentionally withholding insulin and mismanaging their type 1 diabetes as a means of purging or losing weight is ultimately putting their life at risk, as the complications can be fatal. Because of the complexity of managing type 1 diabetes with bulimia, working with a professional treatment team is critical for recovery and effectively dealing with symptoms and behaviors.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
If you are in recovery from an eating disorder, what tools were helpful to you in separating emotion from food?
Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on January 13, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
