Multidisciplinary residential treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus and co-occurring eating disorders

Yl Dickens; Af Haynos; S Nunnemaker; L Platka-bird; J Dolores

John Dolores

Authors Details :
Yl Dickens,
Af Haynos,
S Nunnemaker,
L Platka-bird,
J Dolores

Journal title : Eating Disorders

Publisher : Informa UK Limited

Online ISSN : 1532-530X

Page Number : 134-143

Journal volume : 23

Journal issue : 2

314 Views Original Article

Research on treatment for diabetes and co-occurring eating disorders is sparse. We examined outcomes from multidisciplinary residential treatment for women with type 1 diabetes and eating disorders and the impact of treatment duration on outcomes. Participants were 29 women with type 1 diabetes and eating disorders receiving residential treatment. Repeated measures analyses of variance examined changes in blood glucose and psychological symptoms over treatment. Analyses were repeated to include treatment by duration interactions. Treatment produced significant reductions in blood glucose, eating disorder symptoms, and psychological concerns. Longer treatment duration was associated with greater improvements in psychological symptoms. Disordered eating is alarmingly common among individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus, with rates of co-occurring diabetes and eating disorders estimated as high as 40% (Young etal., 2012; Young-Hyman & Davis, 2012). The most commonly noted link between type 1 diabetes and eating disorders is in the form of purging through insulin omission for weight loss purposes (Darbar & Mokha, 2008), which has been noted for individuals with diabetes co- occurring with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS; Nielsen, 2002; Peveler & Fairburn, 1989). However, even among individuals with diabetes who do not omit insulin, eating disorder symptoms are elevated (Jones, Lawson, Daneman, Olmsted, & Rodin, 2000).