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Diabetic Dieters Take Big Risks
Skipping insulin as weight-loss technique leads to early death
By Katherine Thompson
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Posted Feb 27, 08 8:10 AM CST
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(Newser)
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Psychologists studying eating habits in type 1 diabetics have found that women who cut back on their insulin as a weight management tactic—and 30% do—triple their chances of dying young. Women who restrict their insulin use have higher rates of kidney disease and foot problems, and die on average at 45, compared to 58 for other type 1 diabetics, reports USA Today.
This insulin-deprivation tendency often occurs in tandem with eating disorders like bulimia; both strategies allow a person to eat more without gaining weight. But while all eating disorders are damaging, this study shows that the cost for insulin-restricters is especially high. "This is a dramatic and very dangerous way to purge calories from the body," says the study's author.