Determining the risk of diabulimia and its relationship with diet quality and nutritional status of adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

IntroductionDiabulimia is known as an eating disorder specific to individuals with diabetes. ObjectivesIn this study, it was aimed to determine the diabulimia risk and to evaluate the possible relationships between diabulimia risk and diet quality, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical parameters of adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Material and methodsIn total, 110 adolescents (male: 51.8%, female: 48.2%) with type 1 diabetes between 10–19years were included in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics and information about diabetes of adolescents were collected using a questionnaire prepared by the researchers through face-to-face interview technique. Anthropometric measurements and 3-day food consumption records were obtained to evaluate their nutritional status, and their biochemical parameters were obtained from hospital files to evaluate their metabolic status. The diet quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index-2015. Diabetes Eating Problem Survey was administered to individuals and it was accepted that diabetics with a total score of≥20 were at risk of diabetes-related eating disorders. Results/ConclusionAmong the 110 adolescents included in this study, 31.8% were found to be at risk of diabulimia. There was a significant relationship between the groups with and without diabulimia risk in terms of diet quality scores (P<0.05). All individuals with a risk of diabulimia as well as 86.8% of individuals without a risk of diabulimia had high HbA1c levels (P<0.05). Diet quality, some anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters of adolescents at risk of diabulimia should be improved. It is important to periodically evaluate the risk of diabulimia, the diet quality, and the nutritional status of adolescents with type 1 diabetes to reduce the occurrence of short and long-term complications.