Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Diabetes mellitus represent a demanding set of biopsychosocial challenges(depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders) for patients and their families regardless of the age of disease onset. Disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders(ED) represent a spectrum of symptoms that may include restricted caloric intake, distorted body image, binge eating and/or purging behaviors such as excessive exercise, vomiting, and the use of laxatives to lose weight. The prevalence of eating disturbances varies and depends on studied population (age, BMI) and used methods of diagnosis. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of disordered eating behavior in type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM) patients received insulin using EAT-26 questionnaire.

Method: 263 patients with type 2 DM receiving insulin were examined. The mean age was 62 (57–67) years, mean weight 91 (78–105) kg, duration of diabetes mellitus 12 (8–17) years. The group of women consisted of 186 patients (the mean age 62 (57–58) years, the mean duration of DM 12 (7–18) years), the group of men include 77 patients (mean age 60 (56–66) years, duration of DM 12 (8–16) years). There were no statistic differences in age (U = 11088, 5 P = 0.077), BMI (U = 11659, 0 P = 0, 276), duration of DM (U = 8461, 5 P = 0.800) in the subgroups. Our study assess the prevalence of ED by using EAT-26 questionnaire as a screening instrument. The cut off 20 was used as a criteria for diagnosis.

Results: The prevalence of disordered eating behavior according to the results of cut off EAT-26 questionnaire was 35.3% (93 of 263 patients had the score 20 and higher). The mean score of EAT-26 was 15 (9–21). Statistical differences were revealed in the EAT –26 score depending on gender (U = 5453.0 P = 0.002). The mean EAT score in subgroup of men was lower 12 (7–20) than in the subgroup of women 16 (10–22). The prevalence of disordered eating in the subgroup of men was 25, 9% (20 of 77 patients). In the subgroup of women 39, 2% (73 of 186 patients).

Conclusion: The prevalence of disordered eating behavior in type 2 DM receiving insulin patients tested by EAT-26 questionnaire was 35.3%.