Diabetes Plus Bulimia Equals Diabulimia

MedPage Today has a brief article on “diabulimia,” a disorder in type 1 diabetics who withhold insulin in order to lose weight.

After following the women for 11 years, the researchers found that those who restricted insulin had increased rates of diabetes complications, shortened lifespan, and increased mortality risk.

Factors that were associated with insulin restriction included greater eating disorder symptoms, diabetes-specific distress, overall psychological symptoms, and fear of hypoglycemia at baseline.

Diabulimics believe the theory that insulin is a major fat-storage hormone.  Furthermore, the high blood sugar levels resulting from inadequate insulin dosing lead to loss of calories (sugar) via urine.

Steve Parker, M.D.