Eating Disorders in Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes: Case Series and day Hospital Treatment Outcome

Women with type 1 diabetes are at high risk for eating disorders (ED), a combination that can increase medical complications and mortality. As little is known about treatment response in this population, clinical presentation and treatment outcome in an extended case series were assessed. A chart review at the Eating Disorders Day Hospital Program at Toronto General Hospital identified a total of 100 individuals with type 1 diabetes assessed 1990-2012. Of 37 who attended day hospital, most experienced improvement in ED symptoms, but only 18.8% had a good immediate treatment outcome, while 43.8% had an intermediate outcome and 37.5% had a poor outcome (meeting diagnostic criteria at discharge). This is poorer than program outcomes in individuals without diabetes ((2)=12.2, df=2; p=0.002). Factors influencing treatment engagement and outcome must be further studied and used to improve treatment results in this high-risk group. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.