EATING ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE-II DIABETES

Although most patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (N IDDM) are overweight, their eating behaviour has not been extensively studied, A consecutive series of 450 patients (223 females, 227 males) with NIDDM aged (mean+/-SD) 58.4+/-8.7 years, with a duration of diab etes of 10.0+/-8.2 years was studied. Eating attitudes and behaviour w ere measured through a psychiatric structured clinical interview (SCID ) and two self-reported questionnaires: the Bulimic Investigation Test Edinburgh (BITE) and a diabetes-specific version of the Eating Attitu de Test (EAT 36); DSM-IV criteria for Binge Eating Disorder were appli ed. Anxiety, mood depression and diabetes-related quality of life were investigated through the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Ha milton's rating scale for depression (Ham-D), and the Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) self-reported questionnaire, respectively. Of the pati ents studied, none was affected by anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa ; 26 (5.7 %) were affected by binge eating disorders (BED), and 55 (12 .2 %) were affected by eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS ), The prevalence of BED and EDNOS, as well as BITE and EAT-36 scores, were significantly higher in females than in males. BITE, but not EAT -36, scores showed a significant correlation with STAI, Ham-D and DQOL scores, HbA(1c), and BMI, These results confirm that disturbances of eating behaviour are widespread among NIDDM patients and interfere wit h metabolic control and quality of life. Females and overweight patien ts appear to be at higher risk for eating disturbances. For these reas ons, eating attitudes and behaviour should be investigated in all pati ents with NIDDM, or at least in those at higher risk for eating distur bances. (C) 1997, Editrice Kurtis.