Screening for eating disorders in diabetes mellitus

Eating disorders in diabetes mellitus may be associated with serious diabetic complications. This study examines the prevalence of complications and the usefulness of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) in screening for eating disorders in a group of insulin-dependent diabetic women. Coping strategies for dealing with diabetes are also investigated. Increased rates of diabetic complications and insulin manipulation were confirmed among subjects with eating disorders. The EAT alone had a poor predictive value for identifying eating disorders, but the presence of raised EAT score or insulin manipulation proved effective in identifying almost all cases of eating disorder. Subjects with high EAT scores showed coping styles characterised by acceptance-resignation.