Megan’s diabulimia story.

Appalling that a person should die of an illness that is widely prevalent but “not yet medically recognised”.

“Just over a year ago Lesley and Neal Davison received a phone call telling them their daughter was about to be sectioned.
She’d tried to kill herself.
For years Megan had been keeping a secret. She had an eating disorder. But she hid it so well, nobody in her family ever realised.
On 4 August, aged 27, she hanged herself and left a six-page suicide note.
Megan had diabulimia”.

Excerpt from BBC Newsbeat – you can read the full story HERE

 Megan Davison.

What is diabulimia? Diabetes UK explain:

The word ‘diabulimia’ merges the words ‘diabetes’ and ‘bulimia’.

It is used to describe the situation where somebody deliberately and regularly reduces the amount of insulin they take due to concerns over their body weight and/or shape.

The long-term impact is severe hyperglycaemia and weight loss, as the body starts to break down its fat and muscle in order to get energy.

There are lots of reasons someone might not take as much insulin as they should, like fear of hypos or underestimating carb count. But when this reduction or even omission of insulin is related to weight control and occurs over a long period of time, it is classed as diabulimia.

It’s really important to know that diabulimia is a mental illness; it’s not a rebellion or shout for attention, and although it’s technically not a medically recognised condition, healthcare professionals are familiar with diabulimia and support is available.

For more information please visit the Biabetes UK website HERE.

Diabetics With Eating Disorders, also known as DWED, s the only charity that at present advocates for and represents those suffering from type 1 diabetes and eating disorders in the United Kingdom. DWED aims to be a voice for the unheard, and to provide help and support for those that are grappling with Type-1 Diabetes and an eating disorder. Studies have proved that ED-DMT1 must be dealt with in a unique way to that of more typical eating disorders, and this can be difficult for clinicians to understand. DWED offers training courses run by Jacqueline Allan, to health care teams nationwide, whether that be in diabetes clinics or mental health & eating disorder units. For more information please visit DWED

— Shomit

 

Posted in Blog on Monday, September 25, 2017
Tagged with bulimia, diabetes, diabulimia, Eating disorders, Media

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