A relação entre a mulher com diabetes e o seu corpo: o risco da diabulimia

The role of diabetes distress in Diabulimia

IMPORTANCE

Diabulimia is a disordered eating behavior in which a person with type 1 diabetes withholds insulin injections to lose weight. It is thought that the psychosocial stress of managing this chronic disease, which is termed diabetes distress, may contribute to developing diabulimia.

OBJECTIVE

This paper explores links between diabetes distress and diabulimia and their relevance to the diagnosis and treatment of diabulimia by assessing whether people with diabulimia report measurable evidence of diabetes distress.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

We evaluated studies examining the qualitative experiences of people with disordered eating behaviors in the setting of type 1 diabetes for themes of diabetes distress by identifying aspects of the patients' stories that matched the criteria in the Diabetes Distress Scale. Selected studies recorded primary data, analyzed qualitative data, examined lived experiences of individuals with diabulimia, and were made available in English-language peer-reviewed journals between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2022. Exclusion criteria included partial articles, editorials, reviews, and abstracts along with studies of patients with type 2 diabetes.

FINDINGS

Over forty individual participants across twelve studies were found to have aspects of their experiences that met one or more criteria from the Diabetes Distress Scale. Participants reported experiences that matched criteria items from each of the seven subscales of the Diabetes Distress Scale. Participants in the twelve studies included 185 individuals with type 1 diabetes experiencing diabulimia, including 164 females (88.6%), 20 males (10.8%), and 1 non-reported gender (0.54%).

CONCLUSION

We believe this discovery warrants further research probing the prevalence of diabetes distress among people with diabulimia as well as other links between the two conditions. We advocate for a diabetes distress-informed approach to diabulimia treatment and for diabetes distress screening in every patient with type 1 diabetes.

Insulin Restriction or Omission in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-synthesis of Individuals' Experiences of Diabulimia

OBJECTIVE

Unique to individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a disordered eating behaviour whereby insulin is deliberately restricted or omitted. Despite growing research in this area, experiential perspectives of individuals remain understudied. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-synthesis was to explore the experiences of individuals with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) by identifying, analysing and synthesising existing knowledge concerning their misuse of insulin for weight control.

DESIGN

Meta-aggregative techniques were employed to generate synthesised findings related to individuals' understanding and experience, physical and psychological impacts, support and treatment-related needs and experiences, noted in twelve studies.

RESULTS

A multifaceted relationship with the unique disordered eating behaviour, beyond weight control was identified. Many individuals experienced a wide range of diabetes-related complications from insulin restriction and omission alongside increased distress, loss of control and feelings of regret, guilt, and shame later in life. Almost all individuals valued peer support from those who shared a 'diabulimic' identity; peer support appeared more conducive to recovery than support from friends, family and formal support services, which were not uniformly supportive.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-synthesis revealed valuable information from individuals with diabulimia which has widespread interdisciplinary implications and may provide useful guidance concerning the prevention and treatment of this unique behaviour. The results highlight the need for empathic, collaborative care, and proactive prevention and early intervention. Furthermore, the findings highlight the value of peer support in recovery, the need for increased knowledge among family and friends, training among multidisciplinary teams and support services, and crucially the development of evidence-based treatments informed by the behaviour as a unique distinct construct.