Disordered eating: Identifying, treating, preventing, and differentiating it from eating disorders

Abstract

Disordered eating is prevalent among people with diabetes and can significantly increase diabetes mortality and morbidity. When disordered eating behaviors are culturally accepted and performed with significant frequency by a variety of groups, it can lead to the perception that these behaviors are "normal," which can be detrimental to the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Diabetes educators are capable of improving their diagnostic skills and treatment methods to meet the special needs of people with diabetes who also suffer from disordered eating. It is important to integrate key questions into assessment interviews and to ensure that the diabetes care team has the skill, knowledge, and tools to diagnose and treat disordered eating to improve outcomes for individuals with diabetes.