Diabulimia - An Introduction to a Diabetes Eating Disorder
Most people are aware of the negative consequences of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.
However, there is a new type of eating disorder on the rise, termed "diabulimia.
" This disorder affects Type 1 diabetic patients who require insulin in order to balance their blood glucose levels.
What is diabulimia? Diabulimia refers to the act of a diabetic person purposefully overlooking or neglecting to take required insulin in order to lose weight.
In an attempt to decrease weight, a diabulimic may take less than the required amount of insulin, or completely omit insulin doses altogether.
Although diabulimia is technically not an eating disorder according to the definition of an eating disorder, it is often likened to one, as the consequences and desired effects are similar.
How prominent is Diabulimia? As with other eating disorders, the majority of victims are females.
According to one report, an estimated one third of diabetic women, including nearly half a million women in the United States are affected by this psychological disorder.
However, this number may be much larger due to unreported or undiagnosed cases.
About Diabulimia Type 1 diabetes is described as a physiological condition in which little or no insulin is produced.
In order to correct this problem, patients must take oral or intravenous insulin doses.
Insulin is required by the body in order to correctly process glucose levels.
Insulin allows glucose to leave the bloodstream and enter the body's cells, providing fuel and energy for the body.
Without insulin, glucose is not properly processed by the body, and can cause severe damage and even death.
The desired effect of skipping or reducing insulin injections is to lose body weight by a number of means.
Without insulin, the body cannot break down glucose sugars, which can result in little or no calorie absorption.
While this can produce weight loss, the negative consequences far exceed any cosmetic or aesthetic benefits.
Risks of Diabulimia For a person dependent upon administered insulin shots, missing these doses can be extremely deleterious and dangerous.
Some of the most common risks involve heart disease, organ failure, nerve damage, and appendage or limb amputation.
The more severe affects of neglecting insulin shots can result in coma and death.
Signs of Diabulimia There are a number of ways to tell if someone you know is suffering from diabulimia.
Sudden lack signs of insulin injections or finger-prick marks are one sign that a diabetes patient has stopped taking insulin.
Unfilled prescriptions, sudden dramatic weight loss, loss of energy, and spikes in their Hemoglobin A1c levels may be tell-tale signs that they have either stopped or dangerously reduced insulin intake.
If you, or someone you know is suffering from this disease, take immediate action and contact a professional for help.
However, there is a new type of eating disorder on the rise, termed "diabulimia.
" This disorder affects Type 1 diabetic patients who require insulin in order to balance their blood glucose levels.
What is diabulimia? Diabulimia refers to the act of a diabetic person purposefully overlooking or neglecting to take required insulin in order to lose weight.
In an attempt to decrease weight, a diabulimic may take less than the required amount of insulin, or completely omit insulin doses altogether.
Although diabulimia is technically not an eating disorder according to the definition of an eating disorder, it is often likened to one, as the consequences and desired effects are similar.
How prominent is Diabulimia? As with other eating disorders, the majority of victims are females.
According to one report, an estimated one third of diabetic women, including nearly half a million women in the United States are affected by this psychological disorder.
However, this number may be much larger due to unreported or undiagnosed cases.
About Diabulimia Type 1 diabetes is described as a physiological condition in which little or no insulin is produced.
In order to correct this problem, patients must take oral or intravenous insulin doses.
Insulin is required by the body in order to correctly process glucose levels.
Insulin allows glucose to leave the bloodstream and enter the body's cells, providing fuel and energy for the body.
Without insulin, glucose is not properly processed by the body, and can cause severe damage and even death.
The desired effect of skipping or reducing insulin injections is to lose body weight by a number of means.
Without insulin, the body cannot break down glucose sugars, which can result in little or no calorie absorption.
While this can produce weight loss, the negative consequences far exceed any cosmetic or aesthetic benefits.
Risks of Diabulimia For a person dependent upon administered insulin shots, missing these doses can be extremely deleterious and dangerous.
Some of the most common risks involve heart disease, organ failure, nerve damage, and appendage or limb amputation.
The more severe affects of neglecting insulin shots can result in coma and death.
Signs of Diabulimia There are a number of ways to tell if someone you know is suffering from diabulimia.
Sudden lack signs of insulin injections or finger-prick marks are one sign that a diabetes patient has stopped taking insulin.
Unfilled prescriptions, sudden dramatic weight loss, loss of energy, and spikes in their Hemoglobin A1c levels may be tell-tale signs that they have either stopped or dangerously reduced insulin intake.
If you, or someone you know is suffering from this disease, take immediate action and contact a professional for help.
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