Your thoughts on eating disorders and diabetes?

[BECKYK]

What do u think:questionm

[liz32]

I've often wondered why more diabetics aren't bulemic. What better way to get to eat something withour it messing up your sugars. However that just creats a whole other set of issues. With the depression that can accompany diabetes I'm sure there are other mental health issues that come up as well as eating disorders. We just have to be aware of them and not fall into any traps.
Liz

[DeusXM]

Bulemia would severely mess up your BG. If your stomach's empty and you've injected insulin, you'll be going hypo pretty quickly and pretty often.

Besides, for T1s there are ways to stuff yourself, not throw up, and literally watch the weight drop off. Unfortunately it involves not taking your insulin, which doesn't actually help you.

[am1977]

I don't know if you really want my thoughts on this, considering that I've had my own set of eating issues in the past :rolleyes:. We could be here a LONG time.

I think there is a higher incidence of eating disorders in Diabetic females. I'm pretty sure about that. And I think the reason for it might be b/c there is a lot of focus on what you eat and nutrition when managing this disease. I think it could be pretty easy to slip from a normal attitude about food to something not so healthy. Not to mention that there's the whole concept of control. A lot of people think Eating Disorders really are about control. I could see how a diabetic girl could lapse into an ED- perhaps they are looking for some aspect to control, especially since the diabetes aspect is so difficult.

As Deus and Liz said, it really can be a problematic situation. Not only does it make Diabetes more difficult to manage, but it can stir up a whole mess of other health problems as well.

I don't think I eat completely normally now, but compared to how I have eaten in the past, I have definitely improved. I hope that things become a little easier for you- keep fighting!

[Tokyo Cate]

This is a really interesting thread, Becky. A few years ago, I stopped eating for a few months. I am still not sure why, but I would bet my money on stress, stress and then stress. Some of the stress was health-related, but most I think related to uncertainty about the future and issues with relationships.

I don't know if it was related in any way to diabetes, but it did result in me changing hospitals and getting better diabetes care, so maybe it was a good thing. :hmmmm:

That was for me. I know that eating disorders are really serious, whether they are in diabetics or not, and I hope you are well or getting well.

[seacomp]

To a certain extent, diabetes IS an eating disorder. The disease is directly tied to eating; everything you eat or don't eat has medical implications.
For those who are insulin dependant, eating becomes a production, at least if you're on MDI. Choosing what to eat, estimating the carbs, testing the BG, figuring the correct bolus, testing later - a true production.
So not to fixate on eating is, to some extent, not paying the needed attention to your medical care.
I liked it a lot better when could just eat what I want, when I was hungry!

[BECKYK]

I appreciate all your guys imput, i personally battle an eating disorder and was recently put into a hospital impatient program where i was in treatment for it for about 3 weeks. I was very sick, and my heart rhythm was off because my body was extremely malnourished.. I had a combination of symptoms and i believe it was a lot brought on by depression, i didnt eat meals at all and being at college, theres nobody to hold you accountable. I skipped insulin doses, and threw up if i did eat something. Im happy to say ive been back on track since my EDI experience.. i just want to meet people with my same issues.. so i can ask about their coping skills.

[am1977]

Becky...

Thanks for sharing your story with us. There's no doubt that you have been through a lot, but, saying that, I think what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. Wish you a world of luck and best wishes on your road to recovery :smile:

Take care of yourself :top:

[Lorna]

As a recovering binge eater, I sympathise with your cause. I think part of the problem is being encouraged to know a lot about food from a very early age.

[sofaraway]

Hi there,

Just wanted to say well done Becky, really glad you're back on the way up.
I've suffered from bulimia for the last 2-3 years, but am also getting back on track now. Also my best friend has just come out of an inpatient eating disorders program. So I think it's fairly common for people with diabetes to have eating issues.

talking to my dietician about the fact that I thought some of my eating problems were directly linked to diabetes diet, she disagreed and said that actually It's not because I'm diabetic that I need to think about what I eat. its what everybody should be doing, which was interesting.

[clare]

:love: :biggrin: sofaraway :biggrin: :love:


Becky... I replied to your HbA1c thread as well. I'm here if you ever want to chat about anything. Am still struggling in a big way myself but am I'm so much better than I was a few months previously. And it's always nice to chat with people who understand :love: :biggrin: sofaraway :biggrin: :love:

Just a question Becky...how understanding of diabetes did you find the staff at the inpatient programme? I've had some difficulties with staff not knowing much about the condition which resulted in quite a lot of frustration for me. I just wondered what your experience is?

Take care of yourself
Clare xxx