Diabulimia: NHS cash to treat type 1 diabetes eating disorder

[Robinredbreast]

Yes it is a complex topic indeed and mental health plays a big part in it. How would I of coped with my diagnosis if I were younger. I don't know ? When I was diagnosed I had two children to look after and recently separated, so they came first. When the weight started to go on with Insulin injections in hospital, I didn't like it at all and liked the weight I was, 7 stone.

 

[DCUKMod]

I would just like to see it discussed more and for those who are affected by it to feel they can openly talk about it and get support for it, there are still many closed doors on the road to recovery and it's disheartening to see that even when a treatment plan is implemented that it takes too long to help the patient, whilst there is damage being done internally, it needs to be fast tracked and easily accessible for the patient.

@DCUKMod You are very brave to discuss your experiences.

Juicyj, it's all a very long time ago now, thankfully, although some things stay with us forever.

I was very lucky to have been very fit indeed before becoming ill, and that helped my straightforwardly for my body to be able to heal. The mind heals differently, but to be honest, I reckon it was the making of me.

Erm,.... if I can so nearly kill myself, I can probably do most things I set out to achieve.

For anyone in the loop, it's a tough, tough time, and I cannot imagine what it must be like to watch it happen.

Live every day I say.

 

[JohnEGreen]

I am just glad that this serious condition has now been recognised and that the NHS is trying to tackle it even though it's response may fall short of what many feel is required at least it's a step in the right direction.

 

[DCUKMod]

“Leaving aside for a moment” means for a moment. In this instance the “moment” was to ponder the mechanism with insulin as a possiblble cause of weight gain leading to the other issues. But never mind. Note to self - don’t bother commenting in type 1 related topics, as someone is certain to misunderstand or be offended. I did open my post by saying it’s a complex topic, but hey ho.

Sorry for any confusion.

My last comment on this, but leaving aside the mental aspects for a moment is a bit like saying leaving aside the cancer, you can cure the cancer by x, y or z.

We'll move on in think.

 

[RAPS_od]

I don't believe this issue will go away for good until health care providers stop talking to T1s like everything is their fault.
I recently had cause to read my medical chart from when I was admitted and the 12 years after that. Every time I went to the doctor's, I told them I was there about my weight. Every time I was hospitalized for DKA I had a kidney/urinary tract infection.
The doctors told me to watch what I ate (hello? T1 here!). Their notes had statements about trying to get me to eat less fat and pay closer attention to my diabetes... even though they'd left me on a 3,000 calorie diet! When I had infections that put me in DKA, they lectured me about getting better control of my diabetes, but never mentioned that infection causes your blood sugar to rise.
The medical community is very vocal about blaming you for your diabetes and weight, but not so great at listening to your complaints.

 

[Member496333]

My last comment on this, but leaving aside the mental aspects for a moment is a bit like saying leaving aside the cancer, you can cure the cancer by x, y or z.

We'll move on in think.

If you read the entirety of my comments rather than just the bits you wish to characteristically pick holes in, you’ll see it’s not “a bit like” saying that at all. The message that you quoted even explains;

“Leaving aside for a moment” means for a moment. In this instance the “moment” was to ponder the mechanism with insulin as a possible cause of weight gain leading to the other issues.

But yeah let’s move on.

 

[Knikki]

@Jim Lahey I'm with you and in some respects was ignorant of Diabulimia.

As a T1 yes I can eat more carbs and inject insulin to deal with this and in some respects, like all people who are not diabetic, if I get it wrong I will/can gain weight. I'm not full converse with the way in which it all works behind the scenes.

Unfortunate eating disorders are an issue and more so amongst the young, which when mixed in with T1, especially if they get diagnosed in their teens can lead to a some devastating decisions.

Doing a search on Diabulimia is interesting but also very sad in the way that people view themselves in the modern day world.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi,

I've historically made comments on the forum regarding the "cautionary T1 tales" my mum brought back from work nearly 40 years ago when I was a youngster. (She had a job at the local hospital.)
A way of keeping me on track. (Different era.) She told of a tale of a young girl a little older than myself, underweight, high BG, eye issues & refusing to take her insulin.. Sounds like Diabolimia?
There was nothing known back then, I only learned the term some 25 years later when it "clicked" watching a documentary on the subject regarding a woman in her 20s with type one which loosely coined the term with links to mental health.

So, not forgetting the cautionary tale of the young girl in my local hospital 4 decades ago for a moment.
It was just assumed by all that were treating her at the time, (1980/81?) she was a "naughty girl" who just needed to get tighter control of her diabetes, inject & eat.

To be fair at that time the specialists at the same hospital I was treated, made me feel like I was at a "rehab" out patients..

Boy, am I glad the NHS are starting to wake up..