Research

Hormonal

Insulin manipulation (restriction) to control weight in Type 1 Diabetes leads to chronic hyperglycemia, increased morbidity, and a threefold increase in relative risk of death.

If you have Type 1 Diabetes, never restrict your insulin to lose weight. This practice, known as 'diabulimia,' causes severe health complications and triples your risk of death. If you are struggling with body image or weight, seek help from a mental health professional or a diabetes specialist who can help you manage your weight safely without compromising your blood sugar.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Strategic insulin restriction as a means of 'calorie purging' to prevent weight gain causes chronic hyperglycemia... Insulin manipulation behaviors lead to an increase in morbidity as evidenced by a threefold increase in relative risk of death for individuals who restrict insulin.
Karen D. Corbin et al. · Endocrine Reviews · 2018

Why this rating

Supported by registry data and specific studies on insulin manipulation prevalence and outcomes.

Source

Obesity in Type 1 Diabetes: Pathophysiology, Clinical Impact, and Mechanisms

Karen D. Corbin et al. · Endocrine Reviews · 2018

DOI 10.1210/er.2017-00191

narrative_reviewCited 253×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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