GPs advised to be on the look-out for type 1 diabetes eating disorder

GPs have been warned to be on the look-out for ‘diabulimia’, or Eating Disorder-Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (ED-DMT1), which is seen by some as a secret weapon for weight loss. By restricting or reducing the amount of insulin the person injects, they can eat just about anything they want and control their weight. Yet the practice is risky. Restricting the insulin intake leads to high blood sugar and a build-up of ketoacidosis and complications such as blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and nerve damage. The warning comes following a recent study that revealed that nearly 40% of young girls with