Type I Diabetes and Eating Disorders commonly referred to as "Diabulimia"

The term "diabulmia" has been used to refer to the life threatening combination of diabetes and eating disorders and the unhealthy practice by which Type I diabetics manipulate thier weight by depriving thier bodies of much needed insulin. Studies show that Type 1 diabetics are two and a half times more likely to develop an eating disorder than other women.

At the Center for Hope of the Sierras we recognize that the treatment of co-occurring diabetes and eating disorders requires a highly specialized approach. Our staff will help patients to find the balance between appropriate insulin intake and slow, gradual weight restoration while closely monitoring the individual's progress. Our unique approach includes educating patients about thier bodies and thier diseases so that they can learn to regulate the amount of sugar and carbohydrates they're consuming. This way, patients find a balanced, healthy weight they can be happy with, without feeling compelled to abuse insulin.

The Diabetes Program accounts for the biology of co-occurring diabetes and eating disorders as well as the psychological, social and cultural implications that are interwoven in to the biological process. With treatment anchored in the biopsychosocial model, women in the Diabetes Program receive:

• Comprehensive Medical Management, including nutritional education and rehabilitation, blood sugar monitoring/testing, insulin administration, a monitored exercise program.
• Individual, Group, and Family Therapy, which address the food, weight, body image, and interpersonal issues underlying an eating disorder as well as the emotional factors that are interfering with responsible self-care for the treatment of diabetes.
• A Home-Like Environment with 24-Hour Nursing and Social Support, where women can connect in a meaningful way with peer, staff, and themselves.
• Comprehensive Care from a Team of Experts in a CARF Accredited Residential Program, including a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist, a registered dietician with a Ph.D. in nutritional biochemistry, licensed psychologists and marriage and family therapists, a psychiatrist, and 24-hour nursing and patient assistants.

Diabetes and eating disorders are both complex diseases when taken separately; when the conditions exist in the same person, the results can be devastating, with consequences ranging from blindness and nerve disorders to kidney failure and diabetic ketoacidosis (an acidic buildup in the blood resulting from inadequate insulin levels).

With treatment and medical stabilization, patients learn that constant feelings of irritability, dehydration, and fatigue are not "normal" and that they can feel better when managing their diabetes in a healthy way. Patients learn better ways to cope with the feelings brought on by weight gain, get educated about nutrition, diabetes management, and healthy living, and develop a support network that understands the implications of this dual diagnosis.

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