Type 1 Diabetes and Bulimia Nervosa: Analysis of an intervention
Margherita Baruffi
The association of type 1 diabetes and bulimia nervosa always needs special clinical awareness:
our specific study describes the treatment applied on a woman whose diagnosis of type 1
diabetes leads to the development of bulimia nervosa. Diabetes might be considered the trigger
for the eating disorder, using insulin therapy as a specific way to compensate the weight
gain resulting from binge eating behaviour. The first part of the treatment focuses on the
physical illness, facilitating its acceptance and management of related emotions. The eating
disorder treatment will become more effective later on. The study of this case demonstrates
the importance of considering physical comorbidity in eating disorders, as the aetiology and
the progress of the disease are influenced by the concurrent chronic physical illness and its
psychological acceptance.
Keywords
Bulimia Nervosa, Type 1 Diabetes, Comorbidity, Multidisciplinary team, Insulin
Therapy.
