Prevalence of Disordered Eating Behaviors in Type-1 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a chronic disease that leads to the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. It is commonly treated with insulin, and weight gain is a common side effect as glycemic control improves. Thus, individuals with T1D are more likely to develop comorbid disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) or eating disorders (EDs), owing to required food monitoring and other features of T1D treatment. Type 1 diabetes increases the likelihood of eating disorders, notably disordered eating behaviors, which have a major impact on blood glucose levels and can result in short- and long-term consequences. As part of the diabetic management, individuals with T1D must concentrate on nutritional intake, portion control, and carbohydrate counting. Eating disorders in type 1 diabetic patients are severe and are associated with severe morbidity and worse treatment outcomes. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of eating disorder behaviors among Saudi patients with type 1 diabetes.  Methods: This cross-sectional study included 150 male and female patients with T1D (aged 14-50 years) recruited from the Diabetes Treatment Center (DTC) in Riyadh's Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants completed the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey–Revised (DEPS-R) questionnaire. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), in addition to clinical, anthropometric, and sociodemographic information, was another measure. The data analyzed by using the SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics were conducted including the study variables. Results: DEBs were present in 26.8% % of T1D patients. The percentage of DEBs was higher in females (32.0%) compared to males (17.9%). Higher HbA1c and BMI was seen in participants with DEBs (p < 0.001).  The association between DEB and age, type of insulin, smoking, BMI and duration of diabetes among the studied population was not statistically significant.  Conclusion: This study represents the first use of the diabetes-specific DEPS-R score in Saudi Arabia. The findings of this study should be viewed as an initial step toward creating customized and successful intervention plans to enhance eating behaviors in individuals with type 1 diabetes. It is recommended to develop educational programs to increase awareness of nutrition in relation to body weight.