Diabulimia: Information & Resources
People with type 1 diabetes attempt to control body weight by manipulating insulin dosages, skipping doses or taking smaller doses than required to maintain target blood sugar levels, in an attempt to reduce or eliminate weight gain or lose weight. The primary short-term danger is diabetic ketoacidosis which can result in coma or death. People who practice insulin omission, maintaining their blodd sugar levels at higher than target range, experience the typical symptoms of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes: extreme thirst, frequent urination, lethargy, trouble concentrating, the fruity smell that is characteristic of burning ketones, and of course, sudden, unexplained weight loss. Of greater concern are long-term dangers: increased risk and earlier incidence of diabetic complications, and premature death. The term, diabulimia, does not refer to a recognized medical condition, but to a practice recognized by endocrinologists in recent years. Diabulimia is most common in young girls and women with type 1 diabetes, although its insidious nature makes it difficult to accurately determine incidence rates. The official diagnosis that doctors and mental health service providers assign to it is ‘Eating Disorder NOS’ (not otherwise specified). They might also refer to the dually diagnosed patient who has both type 1 diabetes and an eating disorder. There has been little research to date on effective treatment strategies. Traditional eating disorder treatment approaches are commonly applied.
Useful Links
These are a few websites that I think offer good information. If you are looking for a specific kind of information that you don’t find at these links, please feel free to contact me, and if I can point you in the direction of what you’re looking for, I most certainly will. If you know of any websites in addition to these that would be worth adding, please feel free to send the suggested site to me.
JDRF Article with general information
JDRF Canada Article with general information
Psychology Today: The Danger of Diabulimia Article with general information
Sugar Rush This doesn’t appear to have been updated recently, but the owner is now involved with the organization, Diabetics with Eating Eating Disorders
Diabolical Diabulimia This also doesn’t appear to have been updated recently, but it’s a still a useful resource
Diabulimia Help Forum Doesn’t appear to be getting much use, but it’s there
National Eating Disorder Association It’s not much, and you have to scroll down half-way
Diabetics with Eating Disorders (DWED) UK-based organization
Behavioral Diabetes Institute BDI is based in San Diego and offers programming to support diabetes patients for a range of issues, including eating disorders
Behavioral Diabetes Institute Educational Video Video from BDI featuring a presentation by Dr. Ann Goebel-Fabbri of Joslin
Diabetes Health Article with general information
Joslin Diabetes Center Basic information that includes a model developed by Dr. Goebel-Fabbri, “The Cycle of Diabulmia”, also links to contact them for out-patient treatment or consultation services
Center for Hope of the Sierras An eating disorder treatment center in western Nevada with an in-patient program designed for people with diabetes
Diabulimia Helpline Non-Profit dedicated to linking patients and families with resources, including treatment providers, internet resources, and related reading materials
Last Modified: July 2010
Hello,
My daughter has been diabetic since 14, she is now 22 and I am certain she has diabolimia she has lost so much weight but she denies anything is wrong, she is on public insurance and I dont have insurance, do you know of a way I can get her the help she needs. I cant afford these treatment centers but have to get her in asap or she will die. If you have any informations please help me.
Nelly Kaleugher
[...] struggling. I know that I’m not alone, but it was years before I met someone else in person (Lee Ann Thill) who also dealt with diabulmia. I wrote about it in a column on dLife.com , was on dLife TV for an [...]