Eating Disorders Eating Disorders & Other Health Problems Eating Disorders & Diabetes
Eating Disorders and Diabetes
Both diabetes and eating disorders involve attention to body states, weight management, and control of food, and there appears to be a co-morbid relationship between the two in a minority of cases. There may be a number of underlying grounds for this relationship:
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Fluctuations in blood sugar levels can lead to extreme mood swings, anxiety and a sense of loss of control – states which are common for somebody experiencing an eating disorder.
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Diabetes also involves a high level of preoccupation with food, weight and diet which are potential risk factors in the development of an eating disorder.
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Potential body image issues that accompany weight gain following insulin therapy.
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Difficulty in controlling diabetes sometimes leading to unhealthy alternatives, such as disordered eating, as a control mechanism.
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The complications of eating disorders and diabetes co-existing are extremely serious and potentially fatal. For more information on eating disorders and diabetes please click here to download a fact sheet.
Last revision date: Monday, 06 February 2012 12:53
