Characteristics of persons with an eating disorder and type 1 diabetes and psychological comparisons with persons with an eating disorder and no diabetes.

OBJECTIVES

Describe characteristics of patients who have both an eating disorder and type 1 diabetes and compare their responses on psychological tests with those with an eating disorder and no diabetes at time of initial assessment to an eating disorder facility.

METHOD

A chart audit conducted on all 48 patients with ED-DMT1 who were seen collaboratively by the diabetes and eating disorder treatment teams between 2005 and 2008 at Park Nicollet Health Services and 96 (1:2) matched eating disordered controls.

RESULTS

Diabetes was diagnosed an average of 10.2 years (SD = 9.4) before the diagnosis of an eating disorder; HbA1c at initial assessment was 11% (±3.2%). Those without diabetes reported greater depression (p = .048) and greater state and trait anxiety (p = .015 and p = .039, respectively) at initial assessment.

DISCUSSION

Persons with both an eating disorder and type 1 diabetes were less psychologically compromised than their matched cohorts with an eating disorder only. These findings may not remain constant during the course of treatment.