Know the Right Warning Signs of Disordered Eating and Diabetes

Up to half of women with diabetes struggle with food anxiety, chronic weight fluctuations or preoccupation with weight and body image. Which means they’re at elevated risk of developing an eating disorder.¹

With such a high population experiencing disordered eating, it’s important to get educated and know the warning signs.

11 April 2022

Table of contents

Insulin Omission
Other Eating Disorders
The Warning Signs
Take Action

Insulin Omission

Disordered eating is when someone shows irregular eating behaviors. From food preoccupation and weight obsession to rigid rituals and food anxiety.

Disordered eating turns into an eating disorder when food obsession impairs your concentration. Or your daily functions.

The most commonly reported eating disorder among people with diabetes is insulin omission. This was previously referred to as “diabulimia.”

Insulin omission is when you purposely restrict insulin intake to cause hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Without enough insulin, your body breaks down fat as energy — causing weight loss. ²

This is an extremely dangerous habit. Diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to coma or even death.

Look out for DKA symptoms including ²:

Thirst
Frequent urination
Nausea and vomiting
Shortness of breath
Fruity-scented breath
Feeling tired or fatigued

Other Eating Disorders

Diabulimia may be the most common eating disorder for people with diabetes. But, it isn’t the only one.

Other common eating disorders include:

Bulimia Nervosa (bulimia) is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. People with bulimia may secretly binge — eating large amounts of food with a loss of control over the eating — and then purge, trying to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way. This can include vomiting, use of laxatives, excessive exercising, and other methods. ³
Anorexia Nervosa (anorexia) is an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight. People with anorexia place a high value on controlling their weight and shape, using extreme efforts that tend to significantly interfere with their lives. ⁴
Binge-Eating Disorder is a serious eating disorder in which you frequently consume unusually large amounts of food and feel unable to stop eating. ⁵

The Warning Signs

Knowing what eating disorders are is the first step. Now, it’s time to pay attention to warning signs.

Mental Symptoms⁶:

Change in attitude or behaviors toward food, weight or self-perception
Frequent checking in the mirror of perceived flaws
Negative or distorted self-image
Changes in mood — irritability, depression, or apathy

Physical Symptoms ⁶ :

Avoiding eating with others
Food rituals — cutting food into tiny pieces when unnecessary or excessive chewing
Hoarding or hiding food
Eating in secret
Excessive exercising an unhealthy amount
Disappearing after eating, often to the bathroom
Large amounts of food disappearing in short time frames

Take Action

The chance for recovery increases the earlier an eating disorder is detected.

If you find yourself fixating on food, obsessing over your body, or developing unhealthy habits, seek help. Your diabetes care team, nutritionists and therapists are all resources that help prevent disordered eating.

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