Type 1 Diabetes in Women, Insulin Doses and Mortality Risk

Filed in archive Notable , Research , Treatment on February 28, 2008

In women with type 1 diabetes, restriction of their insulin doses can increase (three-folds!) their risk of death and rates of disease complication. Of course, in comparison to those that never skipped their insulin shots.




Such were the findings of a new study led by a team from the Joslin Diabetes Center.

The study highlights the dangers of insulin restriction and concludes that mortality associated with the behavior appears to occur in the context of eating disorder symptoms often exhibited in women with diabetes - sometimes referred to as "diabulimia" in the media.

This 11-year follow-up study of 234 women is one of the first to show an increased risk of mortality as well as higher rates of kidney and foot problems in those who restricted their insulin intake. In addition, the average age of death was younger for those involved in insulin restriction: 45 years of age as compared to 58 years for those who did not restrict.

Thirty percent of the subjects reported restricting their insulin intake at the study's outset. Frequency of the behavior appears to influence mortality risk. Insulin-restricting women who died had reported more frequent insulin restriction and reported more eating disorder symptoms at the study's outset than those insulin-restrictors who were still living at study's end.

I just don't fully understand why someone would skip an insulin shot? But then I don't really know, so you tell me! Especially that any type 1 diabetes patient knows that by doing so, you out your life in danger.

You may wanna think twice before doing so.

Find more details from Joslin Diabetes Center.