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. 2018 Jan 1;43(1):83-93.
doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsx084.

Examination of Psychosocial and Physiological Risk for Bulimic Symptoms in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Transitioning to an Insulin Pump: A Pilot Study

Claire M Peterson  1 , Deborah Young-Hyman  2 , Sarah Fischer  3 , Jessica T Markowitz  4 , Andrew B Muir  5 , Lori M Laffel  4
Affiliations

Examination of Psychosocial and Physiological Risk for Bulimic Symptoms in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Transitioning to an Insulin Pump: A Pilot Study

Claire M Peterson et al. J Pediatr Psychol. .

Abstract

Objectives: This study tested hypotheses drawn from a risk model positing that psychosocial risk plus disease-related and treatment factors contribute to bulimic symptoms in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) transitioning to an insulin pump. The goal of this study was to examine whether disease-related factors, particularly disease- and treatment-based disruption in hunger and satiety, contribute to report of bulimic symptoms in youth with T1D after accounting for psychosocial risk factors.

Methods: 43 youth (ages 10-17, 54% female) with established T1D were recruited before transition from multiple daily injections to insulin-pump therapy from three tertiary pediatric diabetes centers. Participants completed measures of bulimic symptoms, depressive symptoms dietary restraint, and the Diabetes Treatment and Satiety Scale, a diabetes-specific questionnaire assessing hunger and satiety cues and eating behavior in response to blood glucose levels and treatment.

Results: Hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess contributions of psychosocial and disease-based risk to report of bulimic symptoms. After assessing the contributions of body mass index, body image dissatisfaction, and dietary restraint, a significant 2-way interaction emerged between depression and diabetes-related uncontrollable hunger related to bulimic symptoms (β = 1.82, p < .01).

Conclusions: In addition to psychosocial risk, disease- and treatment-based hunger and satiety dysregulation appear to be important factors contributing to report of bulimic symptoms in youth with T1D. These preliminary findings have significant treatment implications for bulimic symptoms in youth with T1D.

Keywords: adolescents; diabetes; eating and feeding disorders; psychosocial functioning.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The Modified Dual Pathway Model.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Interaction between diabetes-related uncontrollable hunger and depression in predicting bulimic symptoms. At +1 SD levels of diabetes-related uncontrollable hunger, the slope of the regression line for depression was significant (β = .36, t = 3.06, p < .005). At − 1 SD levels of diabetes-related uncontrollable hunger, the slope of the regression line for depression was nonsignificant (β = −1.04, t = −.65, p > .05).
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