Eating disorders in young adolescents with type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We aimed at determining the prevalence of eating disorders (ED) in young adolescents with type 1 diabetes. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: 60 boys and 38 girls with type 1 diabetes and 321 boys and 254 girls, age-matched non-diabetic controls. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) and semistructured diagnostic interview on Eating Disorders Examination (EDE) were used. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin and insulin manipulation for weight loss were evaluated. RESULTS: No anorexia or bulimia were found in diabetic patients and non-diabetic controls. Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) were more prevalent in diabetic patients than in controls, both in boys (1.7% vs 0.9%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.7; Cl 95%, 0.2-17.6) and girls (5.3% vs 1.6%; OR = 3.2; Cl 95%, 0.6-17.2). Sub-threshold ED were more common in male diabetic patients than in non-diabetic peers (10% vs 4.4%; OR = 2.4; Cl 95%, 0.9-6.6), and in female diabetic patients than in non-diabetic peers (10.5% vs 9.9%; OR = 1.1; Cl 95%, 0.4-3.2). No statistical differences were found regarding these results. Glycated hemoglobin values were higher in diabetic patients with ED (9.7% [1.52]; 5.6 [2.8], n = 13) than in those without ED (8.4% [1.5]; 5.1 [2.7], n = 85); p = 0.049. Nine diabetic patients (9.1%) manipulated insulin for weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: EDNOS were more prevalent in male and female diabetic patients than in non-diabetic peers. Sub-threshold ED were more prevalent in male diabetic patients than in non-diabetic peers, with no differences between female diabetic patients and their non-diabetic peers.