A recent meta-analysis conducted at the University of Eastern Finland reveals that one in four patients aged 16 years and older with insulin-dependent diabetes exhibits symptoms indicative of eating disorders. These symptoms encompass typical manifestations such as binge eating and food restriction, alongside a unique behaviour known as insulin omission. This practice involves intentionally restricting or skipping insulin doses due to fears of weight gain despite its detrimental effects on blood glucose management.
Doctoral Researcher Pia Niemelä underscores the severity of insulin omission, noting its dual impact on weight loss and disrupted diabetes control. The meta-analysis, which synthesised data from 45 previous studies encompassing 11,592 individuals, highlights that 20% of patients reported engaging in intentional insulin omission.
Published in Eating Behaviors, the study reveals a gender disparity in the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms, with a higher incidence among women compared to men. Contrary to assumptions that eating disorders primarily affect younger demographics, the meta-analysis underscores their prevalence across all age groups among adults with diabetes.
Niemelä emphasises the lack of specific care pathways in Finland for patients with both diabetes and eating disorders, underscoring the need for improved identification and management strategies. The coexistence of these conditions significantly elevates the risk of diabetes-related complications and comorbidities, necessitating structured screening methods such as the DEPS-R survey, which yielded positive results in 27% of subjects in this meta-analysis.
Understanding the scope and clinical implications of eating disorder symptoms in individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes is crucial for developing targeted treatment approaches and comprehensive care pathways.
More information: Pia E. Niemelä et al, Prevalence of eating disorder symptoms in people with insulin-dependent-diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Eating Behaviors. DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2024.101863
Journal information: Eating Behaviors Provided by University of Eastern Finland
