Good health/eating disorders
Eating disorders and diabetes
An eating disorder, whether it is anorexia Libby Dowling. ‘Skipping insulin in a bid
which involves severely restricting to lose weight means that as your body
food intake, or bulimia nervosa where starts to use up its own fat reserve for
sufferers may binge eat and then take energy you can start to produce acidic
laxatives or make themselves sick, is compounds called ketones, which have
always a condition that should be taken the effect of poisoning you.’
seriously and has many possible health Aside from any diabetes-related
risks. Eating disorders have been found complications that can arise due to poor
to be more common in people with glucose control, eating disorders can
diabetes and the term ‘diabulimia’ has lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis
been coined by the media to refer to from lack of calcium, while self-induced
Above: Penny (far right) in 2004, after
anyone who skips their insulin injections vomiting and laxative abuse can also
falling and hurting her hip during a hypo.
as a way of losing or controlling weight, lead to serious health problems.
Opposite: At a family party, the same year.
irrespective of their eating patterns. It Libby adds that while it is hard
Penny (far right) weighed about 5 stone.
is estimated to have been practised, in to pinpoint exactly why people with
varying degrees, by 1 in 3 women with diabetes may be more at risk of
diabetes under the age of 30. developing an eating disorder, one
from neuropathy and can’t easily distinguish
‘It is hard for us to give a definite possible view is that they see themselves
between hot and cold. But luckily none of her
internal organs, including her liver or kidneys,
figure as it is something that people as gaining control over one aspect of
appear to have been permanently damaged.
tend to hide, but it does result in the their lives: ‘They may feel that they lost
‘It felt at times as though I had two diseases
likelihood that your blood glucose will control of their body when they were
and was caught in the middle of them – I knew
be high and depending on the length of diagnosed with diabetes, and food
I should eat healthily and regularly and take my
time this behaviour goes on for, that will becomes one area they feel they can
injections but the anorexia used to come fi rst.
directly increase the risk of developing control. The focus on food, which is such
Now, although I recognise that I will always
all the long-term serious complications of an integral part of managing diabetes,
have to watch myself when it comes to food
diabetes,’ says Diabetes UK care adviser may also be a reason.’
and still have fairly small portions, I never skip
an injection and have much better control over
refl ection for the fi rst time. ‘I hadn’t looked at the fact that she started having to watch me eat my diabetes. I have a life again, whereas before I
myself properly before and really did think I and give me my insulin injections, but I realised was barely existing.’ ■
looked okay. Then one day I saw the truth and it was necessary because I’d been trusted to do
it was as though a switch fl icked in my head. it myself before and look what happened.’
I realised Mum was right – my collarbone Now weighing 7st 7lbs, which is considered
Find out more
was protruding and I could fi t a hand under reasonable for her height of 5ft 2ins, Penny
BEAT
my ribcage. I went downstairs where she was is able to hold down a part-time admin job at
(Eating Disorders Association)
watching TV and just came straight out with it, a local school and for the past year has had a
www.b-eat.co.uk
telling her I needed help.’ boyfriend, Darren, who is sensitive to her past
0845 634 1414
Penny was taken to see her diabetes care illness and remaining body-image issues. The
Provides online support and a national
team – who immediately spotted the fact she outlook is very different from the time she
network of self-help groups for people
had also been skipping her injections – and admits she went to bed each night wondering if
with eating disorders and their families.
was referred to a hospital eating disorders unit. she would make it through to see the next day.
Although her low weight meant Penny could ‘I have so many plans for the future, which Diabetes UK
easily have been admitted as an inpatient, her include working full time at some point and The charity’s website has a helpful
mum was keen to take care of her at home. going travelling – I’d really love to go to Cuba,’ section on eating disorders at www.
Penny received counselling which is still she says. ‘I socialise with friends and can go
diabetes.org.uk/MyLife-YoungAdults/
ongoing and help from her diabetes team, as for long walks. I still have low times but am Food-and-diet/Eating-disorders
well as eating disorder specialists. generally happy and consider myself really lucky.’
‘They have all been fantastic, the counselling Penny has been told the anorexia has left
National Centre for Eating Disorders
has really helped and Mum in particular has her with signs of developing osteoporosis, for
www.eating-disorders.org.uk
been absolutely amazing. She has managed which she takes calcium supplements. She has
0845 838 2040
to combine being there for me as much as had to have several bouts of laser treatment on
Offers information on counselling and
possible with needing to carry on working and her eyes to repair damage, which is likely to be
support for those who suffer from
was determined I was going to get better, even linked to the eating disorder resulting in poor
eating disorders.
when I was too weak to even walk. I didn’t like control of her diabetes. She also suffers badly
Sweet Magazine 55
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