Christian Eating Disorders Clinic Warns of Deadly Trend
Remuda Ranch, a Christian eating disorders clinic and the nation’s leading treatment center, has expressed concern over a trend among diabetics with eating disorders. According to Remuda’s Medical Director Brenda Woods, M.D., young diabetic women are manipulating their insulin doses to control their weight. By underinsulating themselves, sugar is flushed out of their bodies through urine. This manipulation is having deadly results: according to a recent study, the mortality rate among anorexics is 35%.
That means that 1 in 3 young girls and women will die from using their insulin as a tool for aiding their eating disorder. Among those who do not die from it, lasting medical problems due to undertreated diabetes and malnutrition leads to heart problems, liver and kidney problems, vision loss, and musculoskeletal problems. Christian News Wire stated, “Medical damage that a diabetic woman might more typically expect to experience in 30 years, she is accelerating to five or seven years.”
“If a Type I diabetic begins insulin manipulation at the age of 17, she could be totally blind, suffering from extreme nerve pain or on a kidney transplant list by her mid 20s,” adds Dr. Woods. “The ability to have children may be permanently compromised as well. Type I diabetes and an eating disorder is the worst possible combination.”
Parents of Type I diabetics are warned to keep a close check on the amount of insulin being used and to either check the blood sugar themselves or read their child’s monitor log regularly. If you suspect your child is underinsulating, a doctor can perform a Hemoglobin A1C test, a good indicator of long-term insuling under-dosing. Most importantly, do not wait to get treatment. This trend is debilitating and deadly.
Remuda Ranch provides intensive inpatient and residential programs for women and girls suffering from Anorexia, Bulimia, and other Eating Disorders. Our Christian programs offer Hope and Healing to patients of all faiths. RemudaRanch.com 1-800-445-1900
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July 26th, 2007 at 8:25 am
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July 26th, 2007 at 9:48 am
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July 27th, 2007 at 9:36 am
My son was very good friends with a 20 year old girl about 2 years ago. She was studying to be a nurse. This young woman was anorexic, not sure if she was diabetic. She died because her heart stopped while exercising. It is so sad to see our young women going through this kind of thing. It can be helped, and we need to be aware of the warning signs and not be afraid to step in and offer help.
August 17th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Although I am fully aware that anorexia is an extremely serious disease, I question the 35% mortality rate. A study was mentioned. Can you give a reference or sitation for that study?
August 17th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Stephanie, the study being quoted by the Remuda Ranch is Disordered Eating Behaviors in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes;
Sarah Dion Kelly, MS, RD, CDE, LDN, Carol J. Howe, RN, MSN, Jennifer Paige Hendler, LSW and Terri H. Lipman, PhD, CRNP, FAAN. Unfortunately, the full publication is available through paid subscription to the medical journal. If you want to follow up on it, though, you might try e-mailing Sarah Kelley through the link provided here: http://tde.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/31/4/572. None of the other resources I have found list the numbers involved in the study. Ms. Kelly might send you a copy of the article if you request it, though. Keep in mind that the 35% mortality rate is only in anorexics with Type I diabetes who underinsulate to control their weight. The average death toll for anorexics without this complication is about 10%.
May 26th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Although I am fully aware that anorexia is an extremely serious disease, I question the 35% mortality rate. A study was mentioned. Can you give a reference or sitation for that study?