Assessment of diabetes-specific eating disorder risk in adult patients with diabetes

Studies have reported that adults with diabetes are at a higher risk for eating disorders (ED) compared to their peers without diabetes. However, this issue has not been thoroughly explored in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Therefore, our aim was to investigate the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors (DEB) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who were receiving intensive insulin therapy, as well as in patients with T2D at our outpatient clinic. The Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised (DEPS-R) was electronically delivered to the participants for the evaluation of DEB. The survey results, revealed that 35% of all individuals with diabetes exhibited a risk of DEB, with a higher prevalence in those with T2D compared to those with T1D. In patients with T1D, the body mass index (BMI) was similar between risk and non-risk groups in terms of DEB. However, in patients with T2D, the BMI was significantly higher in the at-risk group than in the non-at-risk group. Additionally, over 50% of individuals with diabetes in both groups identified weight loss as an important goal, and more than 60% admitted to skipping meals or snacks. Interestingly, 13.8% of patients with T1D and 27.5% patients with T2D expressed a preference for being thin over having better of their diabetes. Our study underscores that 35% of individuals with diabetes are at risk for DEB, with a higher risk in the T2D group. These findings emphasize the necessity of increasing awareness among physicians and patients regarding the prevalence of disordered eating behavior among patients with diabetes. Early identification of individuals at risk for DEB should be considered an essential component of treatment.