Diabulimia Health Risks
Serious Complications Are Associated With Diabulimia
Misusing insulin as a way of "purging" calories consumed is an eating disorder behavior that is commonly known as "diabulimia" — a dual diagnosis of an eating disorder and type 1 diabetes. The best and most descriptive term of this condition is the Dual Diagnosis of Eating Disorder and Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (ED-DMT1).
Know the risks of eating disorders and type 1 diabetes
There are a number of risks associated with diabulimia. At its most extreme, diabulimia can increase the risk of premature death. People with type 1 diabetes, that are also prone to eating disorder behaviors, may partake in this harmful method regularly, leading to severe consequences:
- Diabetes complications (including onset and severity of microvascular disease and peripheral nerve damage)
- Hyperglycemia (elevated levels of glucose in the bloodstream) resulting from insulin deficiency and leads to damage of small vessels (microvascular damage) and nerve cells, specifically peripheral nerves
- Damage to the retina of the eye, kidneys and heart (related to microvascular disease)
- Small nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy, pain, tingling, and even numbness of hands and feet
- Ketonuria
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
At the extreme, additional complications can include:
- Damage to the heart
- Damage to the kidney
- Damage to the retina of the eye
- Damage to peripheral nerves
- Increased mortality risk
These serious health risks underscore the necessity to seek specialized treatment for this condition.
Intervention for diabulimia can be life-saving
If you are concerned that you, or someone you love, is having complications associated with diabulimia symptoms, please call us at 877-825-8584 to speak confidentially with one of our Masters-level clinicians.
At our eating disorder treatment center, we can help you take immediate steps towards a full and lasting recovery from diabulimia.
