Ellen Degeneres talks about the Abercrombie and Fitch contoversy (&& quickly becomes our favorite talk show host!)
We were beyond honored that Ginger Vieira (writer we love, of Emotional Eating with Diabetes) wanted to feature Diabulimia Helpline on Diabetes Daily. We loved her interview with CEO, Erin M. Akers; she talks about the Helpline's origin, her own struggles with diabulimia, and Dawn Lee-Akers, our family && friends liaison, adds what to do if you suspect a loved one is battling diabulimia. This article is DEFINITELY worth a read!!
Diabulimia Helpline is the country's only non-profit organization dedicated to education, support, and advocacy for diabetics with eating disorders, and their families. Among other things: we have a 24 hour hotline available via (425) 985-3635, an insurance specialist to walk clients and/or their parents through the complicated world of getting insurance to cover eating disorders, and a referral service to help people find the treatment centers, doctors, therapists, and counselors that would be a good fit for them on their road to recovery.
Diabulimia, also known as, ED-DMT1, is the media term coined to describe purposefully manipulating or withholding insulin in order to lose weight. Studies show that Type 1 diabetics are two and a half times more likely to develop an eating disorder than other women. Research suggests that over 30 percent of diabetic women between the ages of 15 and 30 manipulate or omit their insulin in order to lose weight.
Diabetes and eating disorders are both complex, dangerous diseases when they occur separately; when the conditions exist in the same person, the results are devastating. The short term consequences start with Severe Dehydration, muscle loss, Diabetic Ketoacidosis and quickly escalate to high cholesterol, Yeast Infections, Menstrual Disruption and staph infections. Long term, the consequences become Retinopathy, Neuropathy, Gastroparesis, Liver Disease, Kidney Failure, Stroke, Coma and even death.
But there is hope. And the fact that you are here means you're ready to take hold of that hope, and take hold of your life again. We know it will not be easy but "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Worry not, you are not meant to do this alone. Recovery is a journey, and we will be there with you every step of the way.
If today you are fallen, it does not mean you can not get back up. If today you feel beaten, it does not mean you are destroyed. We can't promise to fix all your problems, but we can promise you won't have to face them alone.
With Hope,
Erin M. Akers;
CEO, Diabulimia Helpline
erinmakers@diabulimiahelpline.org