Any tips for diabulimia?

[lilyfleur]

Hi,
I've posted before (ages ago) but I still am no better than I was the last time I reached out and I figure it can't hurt to try again. After struggling with my diabetes for years (what other people describe as burnout is basically my life for the last 15 years) I first found stories I could relate to when I read about diabulimia. I definitely have it, and I've talked to my GP, a counsellor, a psychologst AND my diabetes team and nobody has a ****ing clue how to help/what I'm talking about. I appreciate that it's difficult when patients have diabetes and mental health problems but I just feel like everyone always says the hard part if admitting you have a problem, but what I was never told was that actually it's a thousand times harder when you admit your problem and all anybody seems to do is tell you to get over it/just do the very thing you can't do!
Sorry to rant I'm hoping somebody might be able to share some tips? I've read that some people were seen by eating disorder specialists and I'm just wondering how that happened because I've been told I can't see an eating disorder person because the diabetes is more of a problem (sigh, it's ALL equally important, I've had help with the diabetes and the depression and that hasn't worked so surely the logical next step is the eating disorder?)?

I hope everyone else is feeling better than I do!

Thanks,
Sarah

 

[ButtterflyLady]

I agree with you, the diabetes and the eating disorder are both important. It seems to me that it's necessary to get help with the eating disorder so you can manage the diabetes properly. Not that hard to figure out, is it? Lol.

I wish there were therapists trained in treating diabulimia and that every endocrinologist knew who they were and could refer patients to them. Maybe one day it will happen.

I don't have enough knowledge about diabulimia or T1 to be able to help much I'm afraid. One idea might be to write a letter to your health professionals basically explaining the dilemma in the same way as you have in your above post. You could end the letter by asking them to please work together to find a solution and arrange the help you need.

I imagine there are diabulimia trained therapists in the USA. Perhaps there are websites, books, or training programmes for professionals that you or your team could tap into?

I hope you find something that helps, soon.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Hi,
I've posted before (ages ago) but I still am no better than I was the last time I reached out and I figure it can't hurt to try again. After struggling with my diabetes for years (what other people describe as burnout is basically my life for the last 15 years) I first found stories I could relate to when I read about diabulimia. I definitely have it, and I've talked to my GP, a counsellor, a psychologst AND my diabetes team and nobody has a ****ing clue how to help/what I'm talking about. I appreciate that it's difficult when patients have diabetes and mental health problems but I just feel like everyone always says the hard part if admitting you have a problem, but what I was never told was that actually it's a thousand times harder when you admit your problem and all anybody seems to do is tell you to get over it/just do the very thing you can't do!
Sorry to rant I'm hoping somebody might be able to share some tips? I've read that some people were seen by eating disorder specialists and I'm just wondering how that happened because I've been told I can't see an eating disorder person because the diabetes is more of a problem (sigh, it's ALL equally important, I've had help with the diabetes and the depression and that hasn't worked so surely the logical next step is the eating disorder?)?

I hope everyone else is feeling better than I do!

Thanks,
Sarah

Hi again Sarah

I've been thinking about your situation since I read your post earlier today and I decided to do some googling. I found the following UK organisation, which has 2,000 members. They say they have trained lots of health professionals and they work closely with eating disorder services and mental health professionals. There are links to research articles too, and a pamphlet for GPs that you could print out and give to yours.
http://www.dwed.org.uk/professionals/profs-training-and-materials

 

[azure]

Sorry you're still struggling. Diabulimia is not as uncommon as people might think. Have you got any help at all from your diabetes consultant or a DSN?

I think you could beright about the need to see an eating disorder specialist. It depends what services you've gotnavailable in your local area though unfortunately.

I don't know if you feel able to talk more about it here. I know eating disorders can be a very private thing, but if you wanted to explain a little more about how it affects your daily life, or what the most difficult thing is for you then maybe we could make some suggestions.

Look after yourself.

 

[Flowerpot]

Hi @lilyfleur

The best help I got for diabulimia was from a specialist eating disorders clinic as I was seriously underweight, making myself sick if I did eat and limiting insulin. It is one hell of a cycle to break out of and I agree both the diabetes part and the eating disorder part are fully interlinked and you don't get anywhere focusing on just one part. My diabetes team helped me up to a point but the eating disorders team helped me to make some strategies to actually eat and set a routine, just small amounts at a set time each day.

I would ask for a referral to an eating disorders clinic regardless of the diabetes even if it involves travel. I couldn't have saved myself without specialist input. Diabulimia is much more common than people are aware and its effects are devastating. The biggest wake up call I got was when I woke up one morning with no sight in one eye shortly followed by sight loss in the other eye. At that point my eating problems faded into the background and I just had to do the best I could. I wouldn't wish that horror on anyone and urge you to keep banging on doors for help so that you can start to feel a lot better about things.

I wish you well, it is an evil cycle and it can't be solved quickly or by focusing just on only one issue. Good luck