If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, you should be aware of a recently recognized form of purging that is becoming an increasing concern: diabulimia. Diabulimia refers to the practice of Type I diabetes patients (usually females) omitting their insulin injections in order to avoid weight gain. As you know, Type I diabetes patients are dependent on daily insulin shots in order to regulate blood-sugar levels in the bloodstream and cells of the body. If insulin is omitted, it can have disastrous effects – potential blindness, limb amputation, kidney failure, coma, and even death. Despite these risks, an increasing number of diabetes patients with eating disorders are skipping insulin shots in an attempt at purging unwanted calories.

According to the Associated Press, diabulimia occurs in as many as 450,000 women with Type I diabetes in the United States – that’s up to one-third of the total number of female diabetics. Diabetes medication is, sadly, not the only cause for concern. Reports of the misuse of medications for weight-loss purposes have increased significantly in the past decade. Thyroid medications, asthma medications and stimulants used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are just some examples of prescription medications that may be misused for the purposes of weight-loss. Include a thorough investigation of the use and abuse of prescription medications with your eating disorder clients and monitored for side effects of diabulimia, which include low energy levels, high blood-sugar levels and frequent urination.