Diabulimia: A Deadly New Disorder at Her Active Life

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Diabulimia: A Deadly New Disorder

Posted December 13, 2007 at 06:00 PM by Martha Jones

Section: Her Health, Body Image, Eating Disorders, Her Nutrition, Weight Control, Her News

Insulin Type 1 diabetes is a disorder caused by the body’s immune system attacking its own insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with this disease produce little or no insulin, forcing them to take daily shots of the compound to regulate their blood sugar. Without these shots of insulin, a type 1 diabetic risks dangerous dips and jumps in blood sugar, falling into a coma, or even dying. Knowing these terrible risks, what could possibly cause the recent outbreak of young teenage girls and women with type 1 diabetes to purposely skip their daily insulin shots?

The technical term for this type of behavior is “diabulimia,” although it is not a recognized medical condition. Instead, diabulimia is classified as a body image disorder, rather than an “eating” disorder. This disease can affect anyone, but is most prominent among teenage girls and women. Unfortunately, it is becoming a more common behavior for achieving weight loss. Women who suffer from diabulimia see it as an easy answer to weight loss. They don’t have to vomit or purge or use laxatives, or exercise excessively - they just have to keep their sugar levels high. Rather than be concerned with the consequences of skipping insulin, these women equate missing their injections with weight loss.

Insulin is crucial for delivering glucose from the bloodstream to the body’s cells. Without it, the cells starve and the bloodstream becomes overwhelmed with too much glucose. Aside from risking a coma, or death, type 1 diabetics who skip their insulin also risk blindness, a chance at amputations, and kidney failure. One 26-year-old woman who spent years skipping insulin shots to lose weight now lists her aliments as, “chest pain, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, bacterial infections, and lower back pain.” Not illnesses one typically sees in a 26-year old, diabetic or not.

Often times, insulin shots do initially lead to weight gain in type 1 diabetic patients. Once they become familiar with how insulin works (as a storage hormone that keeps muscle mass from breaking down, but also promotes fat storage), they may begin to manipulate their insulin intake.

One expert on the disorder reported that out of 450,000 type 1 diabetic women in the U.S., one-third have skipped or modified their insulin intake to lose weight, thus risking their lives. Studies have shown that women who have type 1 diabetes are twice as likely to develop an eating disorder as women who don’t have it. Because managing diabetes often entails constant food intake monitoring, patients might develop an obsession or fixation with food and diet.

A major warning sign to look for in diabetics suffering from diabulimia is a change in eating habits. For example, a friend or family member who starts eating significantly more, without gaining weight (or actually losing noticeable weight). Frequent urination is another signal, as the body starts trying to void the excess glucose that remains in the bloodstream. Constant vomiting is another signal the body is trying to purge the unwanted sugar in the blood.

The long term damage associated with diabulima is extremely dangerous. Acknowledging this behavior and intervening at an early stage is crucial in making a difference that could save a life. If you have a friend or loved one dealing with diabetes, and exhibiting signs of a disordered relationship with food, or who toys with their insulin regulation, discuss the issue with them, and encourage them to contact their doctor.