Q: Which doctor should one consult for diabulimia?
A: If you suspect someone to be suffering from symptoms of diabulimia, then first contact the diabetes health care team. The treatment of diabulimia involves comprehensive treatment by a diabetes specialist, an endocrinologist, a dietitian, an eating disorder specialist, and a psychotherapist.
Q: Can eating disorders be cured?
A: Eating disorders can be cured in approximately 80 percent of cases if they are detected early and treated effectively.
Q: Is diabulimia dangerous?
A: Diabulimia is actually very dangerous. Various studies have shown that people who do not take the required insulin dose over a long period of time have a relatively shorter life span. These people experience neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy very soon which can also lead to infertility. Further, lack of proper and timely treatment in individuals having diabulimia with severe ketoacidosis can lead to heart and organ failure.
Q: Does diabulimia happen only in females?
A: No, diabulimia happens in males also. Research has shown that men having type 1 diabetes have a ‘higher drive for thinness’ as compared to non-diabetic males, making them more susceptible to diabulimia.
Q: Can diabulimia be treated?
A: With the correct help and support, diabulimia can be treated. It is very important that if you are struggling with diabulimia, you should reach out and tell someone what’s going on. Diabulimia requires careful treatment from a team of specialists.
Q: Why is diabulimia generally not discussed by doctors?
A: Diabulimia is still not recognized as a medical condition, it is considered to be a psychiatric disorder and so it generally escapes clinical recognition.
