Diabulimia

I saw a headline today "Diabulimics shun insulin to get thin."

I am horrified. Unregulated diabetes (chronically high blood sugar) will cause blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and nerve damage. It is the major cause of limb amputations. Untreated diabetes can lead to diabetic induced comas (generally from diabetic ketoacidosis) and death.

In spite of knowing all of this, "One in three type 1 diabetics reported skipping or underdosing their insulin to lose weight, according to a study by researchers at the University of Toronto" One in three people; 33% of diabetics are risking their lives just to be thin.

"The problem is widespread enough that physicians now see insulin underdosing as a form of purging, making it a close cousin of the eating disorder bulimia. Some doctors even call it "diabulimia." "

There are a number of frightening stories in this article about women facing this problem. Take insulin, feel good, perhaps get plump or risk your life to be thin? You can read the whole article here.