Eating disorders common in people with insulin-dependent diabetes, finds study
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According to a study published in the journal Eating Behaviors, researchers at the University of Eastern Finland found that one in four patients with insulin-dependent diabetes aged 16 years and older also exhibit some kind of eating disorder symptoms.
Eating disorders are more prevalent in people with diabetes than in the general population and they are also more deadly. Many diabetes-related factors increase the risk of eating disorders, such as concerns over shape and weight, a focus on diet and carbohydrates, and difficulties coping with long-term conditions. Certain risk factors, such as high body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction, deficient coping strategies, and symptoms of depression, are associated with eating disorders of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes have a unique form of disordered eating known as insulin omission. Insulin omission refers to intentionally skipping insulin doses to lose glucose calories through the glucose excretion in the urine, leading to weight loss
“Intentional skipping or restriction of insulin doses will lead to weight loss, but this also maintains high blood glucose, throwing diabetes management off balance,” said Doctoral Researcher Pia Niemelä of the University of Eastern Finland.
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