n. An eating disorder in which a diabetic person attempts to lose weight by regularly omitting insulin injections.
2011
According to a University of Toronto study, teenage girls with diabetes are twice as likely to develop eating disorders. "Diabulimia," Mercer explains, "is characterized by a person with diabetes who is intentionally skipping insulin therapy to keep blood glucose levels elevated, which in turn causes dangerous weight loss."
2011
She is part of a recent wave of attention, activism, and research focused on type 1 diabetics who restrict their insulin for weight control….
In fact, there was no formal name for the dual diagnosis until three years ago, when an international group recommended "Eating Disorders-Diabetes Mellitus Type 1."
Patients and the media have embraced a catchier label: diabulimia.
In fact, there was no formal name for the dual diagnosis until three years ago, when an international group recommended "Eating Disorders-Diabetes Mellitus Type 1."
Patients and the media have embraced a catchier label: diabulimia.
1998 (earliest)
Instead of vomiting or taking diuretics a person with diabetes can omit insulin in order to lose weight. Omitting insulin produces high blood sugar and causes a person to lose a large number of calories….
Brink and former associate Harold Starkman, MD have even coined a term for this condition which they have encountered so frequently "diabulimia."
Brink and former associate Harold Starkman, MD have even coined a term for this condition which they have encountered so frequently "diabulimia."
Google Books returns a diabulimia citation from African Drum magazine and says the date is January 1, 1951. However, since the next earliest citation comes 47 years later, I'm going to assume the 1951 date is an error.