The Double D. 
If you ever thought managing an eating disorder was horrendous, add type 1 diabetes to the mix.

Working as a psych nurse with kids for a number of years, I had quite a bit of exposure to severe eating disorders. Type 1 diabetes brings a very unique twist to this form of purging.  Instead of cutting back on calories, the individual is actually eating gobs of food.  High blood sugar is the ultimate goal in this game of Russian roulette.

WHY?

Diabulimia’s measured success is through weight loss- sad, but true.

University of Toronto researchers studied eating disorders in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes

Researchers found that eating disorders seemed to occur at a much higher rate in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.  In fact, it occurs at a rate 2-3 times higher than their peers.

What is the underlying mechanism of weight loss?

Manipulating the amount of injected insulin and food consumed has a direct correlation to blood sugars.  Keep in mind, with type 1 diabetes the only source of insulin is that which is physically given through an insulin pump or a syringe.  When blood sugars are high and insulin levels are low the body begins its natural purging process.

Insulin serves as a key that opens the door between the bloodstream and the bodies cells.  Without a large enough key, the doors remain shut on processing the sugar to the cells for energy.  With the sugar levels remaining high in the bloodstream the intelligent human body takes over its own rhythm of helping that along.

High blood sugars encourage thirst, urination and the breakdown of fat and muscle for energy.  This is sounding like a state of ketosis isn’t it? Eerily familiar to the days of diagnosis with type 1 diabetes?

You are right, and there isn’t a healthy thing to note about this form of weight loss.  The stakes are high and walking the tight rope of high blood sugars versus diabetic ketoacidosis is a perilous game to play.

What is the human experience?

Weight loss
Exhaustion
Headaches
Body aches
Vomiting
Ketones
Increased urination
Increased thirst
Flu like symptoms

Control

Diabetes revolves around the word control.  We becomes masters of manipulation with type 1 diabetes.  If the blood sugar is high we manipulate food choices and insulin.  If the blood sugar is low we are increasing food and decreasing insulin.  We manipulate minute to minute, hour by hour, day to day.  No day is ever the same and the results always vary, but we are taught to CONTROL our diabetes.

Having type 1 diabetes as a child can be overwhelming.  Parenting to this disease also proves to be emotionally overloading at times.  Most kids will tell you they are controlled by their parents right?  Remember all those rules and regulations?

Type 1 diabetes can take a lot of independence and freedom away from an average child.  With all of the daily tasks and checking in with parents ten or so times a day to discuss the treatment plan at hand.  Blessings from the parent granted about what they can eat, where they can go, when to check, what insulin to give- kids lose a lot of control over decision making about their bodies.

Many kids with an eating disorder come from situations where the only thing they could control was what they ate.  If they are forced to eat it they can still purge it.  Bulimia through laxatives, vomiting, excessive exercising or by producing high blood blood sugars all have the same catastrophic results.

Whatever the cause may be for diabulimia, it must be addressed.  If you suspect your child has diabulimia or you have it yourself, please seek medical help.

You can lose weight healthfully with type 1 diabetes.