Diabetes and Eating Disorders

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is one of the most common chronic illnesses of childhood and adolescence in North America.1 Although most young patients with IDDM are healthy, up to 40 percent eventually have diabetes-related microvascular complications.2,3 The risk is greater in those whose diabetes is poorly controlled.4 Eating behavior is categorized under three commonly selected categories.4 Highly disordered eating is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the following forms of disordered behavior at least twice per week: binge eating, omission or under dosing of insulin to promote weight loss, self-induced vomiting, or use of laxatives.4 Moderately disordered eating is defined as the occurrence of one or more of these forms of disordered behavior at least twice per month, but less than twice per week.4 Nondisordered eating is defined as the absence of disordered behavior or its occurrence less than twice per month.4 Up to one third of young women with IDDM h...