Eating disorders: a diabetes perspective. Part 2: guidelines for early aiagnosis

Authors

  • Alcira Blanco Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Judith Sarli Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Guillermo Azueta Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Juan Carlos Bauchi Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Laura Soledad Díaz Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Olguita Vera Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Olga Escobar Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47196/diab.v60i1.1319

Keywords:

diabetes mellitus, eating disorders, early detection, metabolic risk, interdisciplinary approach

Abstract

The coexistence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and eating disorders (EDs) represents a growing clinical challenge, with significant implications for metabolic prognosis, treatment adherence, and quality of life. While numerous studies exist on each condition separately, the combined approach to both has been scarcely explored in daily medical practice, delaying their detection and timely intervention. This article aims to provide an updated review of shared risk factors, clinical features, and warning signs that can guide healthcare teams in the early identification of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder (BED) as the most frequent disorders in people with DM and as a specific manifestation in those with type 1 diabetes known as "diabulimia." Furthermore, it proposes a comprehensive perspective that considers both metabolic and psycho-emotional dimensions, highlighting the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to prevent complications and improve health outcomes. To this end, a review of the scientific literature of the last 15 years was carried out, in populations of both sexes and all ages, taken from the PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scielo and Google Scholar databases, prioritizing meta-analyses, guidelines, official consensuses, reviews and original studies.

Author Biographies

Alcira Blanco, Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medical specialist in Endocrinology and Metabolism, specialist in Diabetes (Argentine Diabetes Society, SAD), Stress Medicine, Teaching collaborator of the Higher Course for Specialists in Cardiology of District IV of the Province of Buenos Aires, full member of SAD and Argentine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SAEM), member of the PINE and Integrative Medicine department of SAEM, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

Judith Sarli, Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medical specialist in Endocrinology and Metabolism, specialist in Lifestyle Medicine, Master's degree in Psychoneuroimmunology, ontological coach, full member of the Argentine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SAEM), member of the PINE and Integrative Medicine department of SAEM, Cardio-Reno-Metabolic Center of the Central Hospital of Pilar, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Guillermo Azueta, Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Senior Specialist in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology with additional qualification in Diabetology (College of Physicians of the Province of Buenos Aires IX District), Associate Member of the Argentine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SAEM), Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Juan Carlos Bauchi, Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Specialist Consultant in Endocrinology, Senior Specialist in Internal Medicine, qualified in Diabetology, Master in Psychoneuroimmunology, member of the Argentine Federation of Endocrinology Societies (FASEN), the Argentine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SAEM) and the Medical Association of Bahía Blanca (AMBB), former head of the Endocrinology Service of the Puerto Belgrano Naval Hospital, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Laura Soledad Díaz, Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Licensed Nurse, Diabetes Educator, Organizational and Executive Coach, Professor of the Bachelor of Nursing program at the National University of La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina

Olguita Vera, Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medical specialist in Endocrinology, member of the Argentine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SAEM) and of the Argentine Federation of Endocrinology Societies (FASEN)

Olga Escobar, Psychosocial Aspects Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medical specialist in Endocrinology, private practice, member of the Argentine Federation of Endocrinology Societies (FASEN), San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina

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Published

2026-03-20

Issue

Vol. 60 No. 1 (2026): January-April

Section

Review

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Copyright (c) 2026 on behalf of the authors. Reproduction rights: Argentine Diabetes Society

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