Diabulimia: what is it and why have so few people heard of it?

Content warning: this episode discusses eating disorders and disordered eating.

Type 1 diabetes with disordered eating (T1DE), or diabulimia as some experts call it, is a serious eating disorder that people with type 1 diabetes can develop where the person reduces or stops taking their insulin as a way of managing their weight. The condition can be life-threatening.

Although studies are limited, it’s estimated that eating disorders affect more than a third of patients with type 1 diabetes.

A new toolkit published by SIGN, part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, sets out recommendations to raise awareness of diabulimia and provide guidance on how best to support people living with the condition.

In this episode we discuss diabulimia and speak with experts about the key recommendations in the new toolkit.

We speak to Lawrence Smith who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was four years old and went on to develop an eating disorder in his teens. We also speak to Safia Qureshi, Director of Evidence & Digital at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, who talks about the key recommendations in the toolkit and Dr Louise Johnston, Consultant and Clinical Lead on the inpatient unit for eating disorders, NHS Grampian.

Help and support

You can find more information on how to get support in our toolkit.

For help, support and information about eating disorders, contact Beat on 0808 801 0432. Lines are open 3pm – 8pm, Monday to Friday.

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