I have an overeating problem as well as Type 1. I don't think it is Binge Eating Disorder - as I understand it, that means you eat and eat until you are feeling sick or in physical pain. I was never like that. I always stopped before that point. But I do believe I have some sort of overeating problem. It is not as simple as just eating less - my disordered eating is psychologically linked to my diabetes - rebelling against the constant monitoring and the telling-off for high sugars and weight gain, the locking away of food and the forced exercise. I am doing much better than I was but I still do not eat very well - I am still rebelling against any meal planning, I have a feeling that I don't want to be restricted and I want to eat what I want. Like you I ended up in hospital with DKA due to eating what I wanted and not knowing how to adjust my insulin.

I have never received any formal treatment. Everyone ignored my problems all through my teens - doctors, parents, everyone. I still cannot tell any of the doctors what I eat, there are strong feelings of pain and guilt there. I lie my way through annual review appointments and promise to do better next time. The one thing I did was to go on an education course which taught me about how to adjust my insulin and carbs, and I have improved slowly since then, although this year I have been stressed and have been eating worse than usual. But I feel more in control and am more accountable to myself. I have been using a BG diary since the course for the first time ever.

I understand the whole rebelling against insulin thing.
I dont have an overeating problem though,
I'm anorexic, and have diabulimia. ->(skipping insulin in order to burn keytones to loose weight).
Its crazy really, the doctors say I'm going into kidney failure becuase of uncontrolled glucose levels.. but for some reason, I cant manage to stop skipping insulin doses.

I am relieved. I thought I was the only person in the world who was rebelling against taking blood sugars and giving myself my insulin. If you read my journal you will understand why I am rebelling. I am so sick of complications!!! My sugars stay roughly between 300 - 600. My doctor has told me he has no clue ho my body is withstanding such high sugars ith no complications. I have even had sugars as high as 750 in the hospital. During that visit my heart rate was very high and I was warned that if my sugars stayed that way I would either go into kidney failure or DKA. They gave me insulin and sent me home. You would think with an experience like that I would get my A$$ in check. I find it impossible though. I am glad I am not alone in this feeling. So good luck to all of us. I think us admitting this problem is a step in the right direction. (((Hugs to all)))
Brandy

I went through a period like that when I was a teen/young adult. I was really thin. It was a real problem and luckily I didn't wind up in the hospital very often (only once or twice).

It's tough, but the only thing that got me through it, was when my doc said to me , "Jessica, you're dying. Not today, not tomorrow, but I don't want to be the one to tell you you'll never see again, or that it's not so bad, you're a great candidate for dialysis. So I am releasing you as my patient." I was like WHOAH! This is a doctor! How can he do this to me?!?!? But it worked.

Then I spoke to a few people with complications, and I myself have some retinopathy that was treated. I am happy with my weight, and I'm alive to enjoy it. I excercise and diet just like everyone else. I got through it on my own. But take whatever help you can get. Relapse is common. Its difficult. Good Luck.

I had diabulemia years ago and back then I thought I was the only one who had thought of this "great idea." It started when I was a teenager and ended at the age of 23. I could eat sugar and stay skinny; it was great. I am paying for it now. I had an A1c of 23 at the age of 21. I tried to get it under control and got my A1c down to 11 or so and then gave up. At the age of 23, my A1c was a 21.3 and I had already had tons of laser surgery for retinopathy, had a vitrectomy in my left eye, and had lost a fair amount of vision. I finally went to the endocrinologist at this point because my opthamologist said that most likely my kidneys were failing too. He was right. I had kidney disease. I changed my eating habits quicily because at this point it was life or death for me. I got my A1c down to 5.7 or 5.8 very quickly and kept it there. When people used to ask me why I ate so much sugar and didn't I care about what it was doing to me, I would tell them that I didn't care because I would be dead by the age of 30. Thankfully, I was wrong and I am now 37, but had I continued to be a diabulemis, I would have been right. I wish so badly that I had started taking care of myself earlier. I had to be scared into it. When you're facing possible blindness and kidney failure if you don't shape up, it changes things really quickly. I had to teach myself how to eat normally and it was hard at first but I got used to it after just a couple of weeks and have continued to eat normally since. I had a kidney/pancreas transplant 8 years ago and although everything is working great, a wholenew set of problems comes with having had a transplant. It's so much better to take care of what you have and be able to keep it. I know it's hard to change, but you have to do it. Let what happened to me serve as a warning to you. Take care, honey, and I'm praying that you have the strength to change.