EATING DISORDERS AND DIABETES

AUBURN, June 12---Anyone can develop an eating disorder. Having diabetes does not increase your risk for having one, but having diabetes and an eating disorder can be very dangerous.

People with eating disorders have a very distorted view of their bodies, says Dr. Evelyn Crayton, Extension foods and nutrition specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

"They are overly concerned about their weight and see themselves as too fat when they're really underweight. Females are more likely to be diagnosed with these disorders, but males also can have them," Crayton adds.

There are three main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and compulsive overeating. With anorexia nervosa, people restrict food so much that they are at least 25 percent below their ideal body weight. People with bulimia may be normal weight or even overweight, but binge on large amounts of food in a short period of time and then purge by vomiting, using laxatives, or fasting. With compulsive overeating, people eat large amounts of food but don't purge.

These disorders can cause wide swings in the blood sugar, says Crayton. The blood sugar may go too low when a person is purging or eating too little. Or, after a binge, the blood sugar may go so high that ketosis occurs. In both cases emergency treatment may be necessary.

People with diabetes purge in a unique way. They get rid of extra calories and pounds by taking too little insulin so they lose calories by spilling sugar in their urine. This increases their risk for ketosis, urinary tract infections, and vaginal infections. If the blood sugars continue to be poorly controlled, long-term complications such as vision loss, nerve damage, and kidney failure can occur.

No one has to suffer with an eating disorder. There are health professionals who specialize in these disorders. Early diagnosis makes recovery easier, but even people who have had the problem for years can be helped. Treatment focuses on improving self-esteem, coping with stress, developing good communication skills, and learning to eat and exercise moderately.

If you have an eating disorder, talk to your doctor, diabetes educator, dietitian, or mental health agency. Ignoring an eating disorder will not make it go away and chances are it will only get worse.

###
SOURCE: DR. EVELYN CRAYTON, Extension foods and nutrition specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (334) 844-2224.