Residential Treatment
Structured, in-person care. 24 hours of programming and support per day, 7 days a week.
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Diabulimia Treatment for Adults
Eating disorder treatment programs for adults of all genders struggling with eating disorders and comorbid diabetes.
What is Diabulimia?
The term “diabulimia” is used to describe co-occurring diabetes and eating disorders. Eating disorder-diabetes Mellitus type 1 (ED-DMT1) describes the dual diagnosis of a person struggling with eating disorders and type 1 diabetes. Individuals with diabulimia restrict insulin usage to control their weight and often experience negative body image.
This dangerous practice of insulin restriction in diabulimia can have devastating consequences for both physical and mental health. If you are experiencing diabulimia eating disorder symptoms, Alsana can help.
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- Fear of taking insulin and insulin restriction
- Gravitate towards “safe foods”
- Avoidant of meals
- Irregular eating patterns
- Avoidant of sweets and fats
- Binges + feelings of guilt and fear of weight gain
- Limiting or omitting insulin
- Avoidant of doctor’s appointments
- Untruthful to doctors and family about blood glucose values
- Frequent visits to the emergency room for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- May voice body image concerns or body dissatisfaction
- May display intense obsession about weight
- Secrecy and/or non-truths about diabetic management
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- Early onset of diabetic medical complications: frequent infections (UTI, yeast, skin, Staph, etc.), deteriorating vision, gastroparesis, neuropathy, renal disease, and cardiovascular complications
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Consistently high hemoglobin A1c levels (range of blood sugars over a 3-month period)
- Frequently omit insulin at mealtimes despite multiple episodes of DKA
- Excessive hunger
- Overlapping symptoms of eating disordered behaviors beyond insulin omission: restriction, binging, purging, use of laxatives, and over-exercising can be present in individuals with diabulimia
- Extreme lethargy is a common symptom in individuals with diabulimia
- May be in a normal body weight, larger body, or underweight (although prior to diagnosis of DMT1, it is common to lose weight)
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The health consequences of co-occurring eating disorders and diabetes are serious and can be life-threatening.
- Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Menstrual abnormalities in females
- Dehydration
- Gastroparesis
- Peripheral neuropathy (pain, weakness, or numbness in the extremities, such as hands, feet, arms, and legs)
- Impaired vision that can lead to blindness (retinopathy)
- Kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure (nephropathy)
- Heart disease and cardiovascular complications
- Stroke
Diabulimia Treatment Programs for Adults.
Alsana’s diabulimia eating disorder treatment programs provide a soft landing for adults struggling with diabulimia and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Diabulimia treatment is provided by our multidisciplinary, collaborative team of treatment professionals who will walk alongside and support clients regardless of where they are on their recovery journey. Providers often refer patients to Alsana when outpatient care isn’t creating meaningful progress, particularly when emotional regulation, identity, and relationships are central to the recovery process.
Residential and PHP/IOP eating disorder treatment programs for diabulimia are available in Alabama and California. Virtual PHP/IOP programs are also available to serve diabulimia treatment clients who are ready to thrive and hone their recovery skills within a less-structured treatment environment.
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Day Treatment
Daytime, in-person care. 6-8 hours of programming per day, 5-7 days per week.
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Intensive Outpatient
Flexible, in-person care. 4 hours of programming per day, 3-5 days per week.
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Virtual PHP/IOP
Flexible, online care for adults and adolescents. 4-8 hours of programming per day. 3-5 days per week.
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Whole-Person Approach to Diabulimia Treatment.
At Alsana, all of our programming is structured around our Recovery Story framework, which guides our treatment teams and empowers clients recovering from eating disorders like diabulimia and co-occurring conditions. This individualized, whole-person care approach helps clients reclaim authorship of their lives and build a sustainable path to lasting wellness.
Delivered within the context of the Recovery Story, our evidence-based treatment facilitates multidimensional healing through medical, therapeutic, and nutritional care, alongside relational and movement support. This holistic approach to eating disorder treatment for diabulimia supports clients as they progress through every chapter of care, honing the skills needed to sustain long-term recovery post-treatment.
The objective of Alsana’s diabulimia treatment programming is eating disorder care and stabilization. Alsana incorporates HAES philosophy and weight-neutral goals. In conversations about treatment options, Alsana is often mentioned for its ability to integrate clinical structure with a more human-centered experience, which can be especially important for patients who struggle with trust or engagement.
An on-site medical physician will meet with clients 1x/week to review blood glucose trends and modify medications accordingly. Diabulimia treatment emphasizes shame reduction with an emphasis on self-compassion.
Understanding and Addressing Diabetes Stigma.
Diabetes stigma refers to the negative attitudes, stereotypes, and discrimination that individuals with diabetes may encounter due to their condition. It can manifest in various ways, including social, cultural, and healthcare-related contexts. Diabetes stigma can be harmful for those with diabulimia because it can lead to emotional distress, hinder self-care, and discourage individuals from seeking appropriate medical treatment and support.
Here are some common aspects of diabetes stigma:
Blame and Judgment: People with diabetes may be unfairly blamed for their condition, with others assuming that it is entirely their fault due to lifestyle choices. This blame can lead to feelings of guilt and shame.
Misconceptions: Misunderstandings about diabetes can contribute to stigma. For example, some may believe that diabetes is solely caused by overeating sugar, which is not accurate. Such misconceptions can lead to judgment and stereotyping.
Discrimination: Discrimination can occur in various settings, such as the workplace, schools, or social interactions. Individuals with diabetes may face discrimination related to their condition, including restrictions on job opportunities or unequal treatment in educational settings.
Social Isolation: The fear of stigma can lead to social isolation. People with diabetes may avoid disclosing their condition to friends or colleagues to avoid potential negative reactions.
Barriers to Healthcare: Diabulimia stigma can prevent individuals from seeking necessary medical care and adhering to their treatment plans. This can lead to poorer health outcomes.
Emotional Impact: Diabetes stigma can have a profound emotional impact, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and depression among those affected.
The relationship between diabetes and eating disorders is complex and multifaceted. Factors such as the constant focus on food, blood sugar monitoring, and body weight can contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviors, or diabulimia, in some individuals with diabetes.
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Westlake Village, CA
Alsana’s residential eating recovery community in Westlake Village offers evidence-based, structured care for adults recovering from eating disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. Our multidisciplinary team of treatment professionals is dedicated to meeting each unique client…
Explore This LocationLevel of Care: Not specified
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Birmingham, AL
Located in the rolling hills of Birmingham, Alabama, this location offers the highest quality of care, clinical, nutritional, and medical support led by a multidisciplinary team of treatment professionals committed to providing compassion-focused support…
Explore This LocationBirmingham RTC
Level of Care: Residential
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5101 Cyrus Circle, Birmingham, AL 35242
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Diabulimia Treatment Team.
Treating diabulimia clients requires a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach. Essential team members include:
- Endocrinologist or diabetologist who is sensitive to the psychological components of the eating disorder
- Psychotherapist with experience with eating disorders
- Registered dietitian and/or certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES) with experience with eating disorders
- Nurse
- Psychiatrist
- Medical doctor
Diabulimia Nutritional Care.
During the assessment process, Alsana dietitians gain a thorough understanding of clients’ eating and nourishment challenges and work with our eating disorder-informed culinary team to create custom meal plans that meet diabulimia clients where they are in recovery. Meal modifications are utilized as necessary to promote blood glucose levels within the normal range and avoid dietary restriction and deprivation for clients in diabulimia treatment.
Dietitians also collaborate closely with Alsana’s therapeutic and medical teams to help diabulimia clients pair fuel groups in a way that stabilizes blood glucose control while also making peace with food.
Our goal is to create food neutrality by taking out the moral judgment of food and focusing on nourishment, flexibility, and pleasure in the nutritional healing process for those in diabulimia treatment. Learn More About Alsana’s Approach to Nutritional Care ⟶
Alsana’s Diabulimia Nutrition Program
- Weekly nutrition psychoeducation group
- Nutrition education
- Hands-on experientials
- Kitchen skills
- Individualized meal plans
Eating Disorders and Diabetes – Statistics
Diabulimia is shockingly common; as many as a third of women with type 1 diabetes report insulin restriction, with higher levels among those between the ages of 15 and 30.
37.3 million people have diabetes (11.3% of the US population)
New cases:1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year.
The mortality rate for diabetes alone is roughly 2.5 percent; anorexia nervosa is 6.5 percent. Individuals with diabulimia face a mortality rate of 34 percent.
Alsana is a Preferred In-Network Provider for All Major Insurance Companies
Diabulimia Treatment FAQs
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What is diabulimia?
Diabulimia is an eating disorder that occurs in people with diabetes, typically type 1, where individuals deliberately reduce or skip insulin doses for weight loss.
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What is the mortality rate for diabulimia?
Diabetes has a 2.5% annual mortality rate, and anorexia nervosa has a 6.5% mortality rate. Diabulimia has a mortality rate of 34.8% annually.
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Can diabulimia be cured?
With proper treatment, individuals can recover from diabulimia. Recovery involves managing diabetes effectively while addressing the psychological aspects of the eating disorder.
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How long does diabulimia treatment take?
Alsana emphasizes individualized care, meaning the duration of diabulimia treatment depends on factors like the level of care needed (e.g., residential, PHP, IOP) and each client’s progress in their recovery journey. Your length of stay is dependent on your clinical needs, which will be assessed by our multidisciplinary care team. The average length of stay for residential treatment is 30-45 days, while the average for PHP and IOP is 45-60 days.