Doubly disabled: Diabetes in combination with an eating disorder

Abstract

We present a series of patients with both an eating disorder and diabetes mellitus and compare these to a group of nondiabetic patients from the same clinic. Significantly more of the diabetic patients had previous attempts at treatment for their eating disorder. Ahigh incidence of diabetic complications was noted with clear implications, both clinically and economically, for early intervention. The incidence of childhood trauma was lower in the diabetic than the non-diabetic group. In the majority of patients, diabetes developed before the eating disorder, suggesting that diabetes itselfmay provide the vulnerability and increase the risk of developing an eating disorder. Early intervention in diabetic clinics may prevent the development of serious eating disorders.