DWED - Diabetics With Eating Disorders

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Thanks for posting this Alan. Very interesting to read this. I love my food, more than sleep which is saying something. So alothgut this is something which I dont think will ever apply to me, based on the figures they share its a major issue for younger T1's and especially females. .

''Of the 26000 ‘avoidable’ from diabetes in 2012 the highest risk of death from any type at any time is among young T1 women aged 15 – 30. Women with Type 1 have a 9 times higher chance of death than their non diabetic peers.[2]

Up to 40% of females who have Type 1 Diabetes admit to missing insulin for weight loss purposes.[3]

60% of females with Type 1 will have experienced a clinically diagnoseable Eating Disorder by the age of 25.[4]''

A close friend of mine suffers with an eating disorder, and the damage it has done to her since it started in her early childhood is horrific. How closely it ties into other mental health issues and physical health issues needs to be looked at more in general. I would think it's higher in other dietary conditions or allergies also. If eating which is a basic survival function could harm you, it must have an impact mentally .
 
I've had a quick look. Appears interesting site. Is it just for T1's?
PhoebeC said:
I would think it's higher in other dietary conditions or allergies also. If eating which is a basic survival function could harm you, it must have an impact mentally .
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I've thought before it must be hard, having a difficult relationship with food and having diabetes (where you've to manage your food instead "of just eating it").
The page mentions people not taking insulin. People have posted about this before. Is it a ... condition (?) (associated with eating disorders?), distinct to not wanting to deal with The D any more?
 
Ralph-YK said:
The page mentions people not taking insulin. People have posted about this before. Is it a ... condition (?) (associated with eating disorders?), distinct to not wanting to deal with The D any more?
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Yes Ralph, this is the root of the particular problems - people have a very powerful tool that will make them lose weight, in addition to not eating properly - not taking insulin will cause the body to burn fat and muscle tissue, causing weight loss, but anyone doing so runs an extreme risk of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) which can be fatal. Even if not fatal it can cause serious damage to all aspects of the body - eyes, heart, kidneys etc. :( Before Jacq set up the charity there was a big disconnect in the NHS between people who understood eating disorders and people who understood diabetes, so the combination of the two was not being addressed. Jacq has worked tirelessly to try and improve understanding and access to appropriate care, she is a true heroine 🙂
 
Northerner said:
extreme risk of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
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I know of a number of people who had this at diagnoses.

I've gone and remembered something from a TV programme on anorexia (years ago). For at least one person, being free to make decision came into it. They had no control. Not eating was one thing they could control (as in refusing to eat). I guess the same thing applies to insulin. That should have occurred to me earlier.
 
I met a young lady at one of the diabetes clinic who, in her late teens, had omitted taking the required insulin to cover carbs, and has been left with a whole host of health problems, she is only 25 :(. Her mum was with her and spoke about the stress and worry it caused her and the family.
There was a programme on the BBC, about 6 months ago on diabulimia. Apparently there is a clinic that specialises in eating disorders and diabetes, not sure where it is but there is only one in England.
 
The work DWED do and are doing is fantastic and so much needed when you see the number of people suffering from disorganised eating and insulin manipulation. :( Diabulimia needs to be recognised as diagnosis.

As I found out 20+ years back, I could get help at an eating disorders clinic and I could get help at a diabetes clinic but there was no link up between the two, the fact I had control of my own insulin supply was the most devastating and powerful part of the equation and a complete mental minefield for me to start to overcome.

I really hope there is some better help and joined up thinking at clinics for such a deadly condition.
 
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