What is the outlook (prognosis) for people with diabulimia?

What is the outlook (prognosis) for people with diabulimia?

The prognosis for diabulimia varies depending on certain factors, including:

• How long the person has had diabulimia.
• How much and how often they’re restricting insulin.
• If they have other disordered eating behaviors.
• The type of treatment and adherence to treatment.

Diabulimia, like other eating disorders, gets worse the longer it’s left untreated. The sooner the disorder is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. However, people with diabulimia often won’t disclose that they’re purposefully withholding insulin and might resist treatment or refuse to follow the treatment plan.

Diabulimia is a serious and potentially life-threatening eating disorder if it’s left untreated. People with diabetes tend to have a somewhat shorter lifespan than people without diabetes, but people with diabulimia are at risk of dying much earlier than people with diabetes alone. One study found that people with diabulimia died an average of 13 years earlier than people with only diabetes.

The good news is that diabulimia can be treated, and someone with diabulimia can return to healthy diabetes management practices and a healthy weight. Support of family members and friends can help ensure that a person with diabulimia receives and adheres to their needed treatment.