Study links eating disorders to diabetic eye issues

A significant positive association between pathological eating disorders and the risk of diabetic retinopathy was observed

Eating disorders are associated with an increased risk of people with diabetes developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can cause blindness if untreated, according to new research by Cambridge, England.

Academics from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) combined data from several studies, with a total of more than 1,100 participants, and found that people with diabetes who were assessed as having an eating disorder were 2.94 times more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy, compared to people with diabetes who did not have an eating disorder.

However, researchers did not find a statistically significant link between binge eating disorder, a condition where a person frequently consumes a large amount of food over a short period of time, and diabetic retinopathy.

“Practitioners working with people with diabetes should closely monitor eating behaviours so that any abnormal eating behaviour can be addressed swiftly to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy and consequent blindness if not treated”, said the researchers.