Diabetic Diet - Half A Million American Diabetics Risk Critical Illness In A Bid To Be Thin

A frightening eating disorder is sweeping the diabetic population according to recent medical reports. Coined Diabulimia, this is a psychological condition affecting an estimated one third of diabetic women, including nearly half a million women in the US. These women, who need to take insulin regularly to survive, are skipping insulin injections in an attempt to lose weight.

Determining the exact number of women affected is tricky as most diabulimics are unlikely to admit to skipping insulin injections whilst they are actually in the habit of doing so, but it is clear that this is a growing phenomenon.

Many people believe word is spreading via internet message boards and chat rooms, where existing diabulimics are encouraging more and more women to lose weight by not taking their required insulin doses. Although the practise of losing weight by skipping insulin injections in not a new one, it seems to have grown out of control with the advent of the internet.

- So how does missing insulin shots result in weight loss?

Skipping insulin injections can cause diabetics to lose weight rapidly in a number of ways:

a. They are not getting any calories from the food they are consuming as there is no insulin to break down sugars and transport them to the bodys cells.
b. Very high blood sugar levels can cause muscle breakdown resulting in weight loss.
c. Excessive urinating caused by high blood sugar could result in dehydration which also leads to weight loss.

- The risks for diabulimics are extremely high

For a diabetic who is dependant on insulin shots, missing their medication can be extremely dangerous. The risks range from kidney and heart disease, to nerve damage resulting in blindness or amputations. Missing vital insulin injections can ultimately increase the risk of a coma and even death.

Matt Hunt, Science Information Manager from the research charity Diabetes UK made the following statement:

This eating disorder is extremely dangerous. Blood glucose that is too high for too long can cause serious complications, with diabetes being the leading cause of blindness amongst the working population in this country. Cardiovascular disease can also result from long periods of insulin abuse as well as kidney disease and nerve damage.

- Do you think someone you know may be diabulimic?

If someone you know is skipping insulin injections in order to lose weight you may notice the following symptoms.

1. They have low energy levels and excess fatigue
2. They are going to the toilet more frequently than usual
3. They are eating more than usual but still losing weight

Always encourage someone that you know is skipping insulin injections to get professional help. This is a psychological disorder, and although it may seem illogical to you to risk serious health issues just to be slim, it may not seem that way to the diabulimic.

- Balancing the fear of being fat against the fear of critical illness

Those suffering from Diabulimia are often aware of the potential damage they could do by skipping their insulin, but their worries about this are far outweighed by their fear of being fat. The weight loss that results from missing insulin shots is almost immediate and visible, the damage being done to the body is less obvious, occurs more gradually, and is easier to ignore.

Many people suffering from this disorder start small, perhaps missing just a couple of injections to fit into a particular dress for a big night out. Before they know it they may be missing most of their shots, taking just enough stay alive. They reason that they will begin to take their medication again once they are thin enough, but somehow, no matter how much weight they lose, they never believe they are thin enough.

Although gradual weight loss can be very positive for overweight diabetics, enabling them to control their blood sugar more effectively, missing insulin shots is never a good way to lose weight. Although diabulimia is not currently an officially recognized medical condition, it is as serious an eating disorder as anorexia or bulimia and it affects a frighteningly large number of diabetic women.

Lisa Janse is a professional writer specializing in health topics. Learn more about living with Diabetes by reading more practical and interesting facts about Diabetes Diets and Diabetes Type 2 at http://www.sugardiabetes.net

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Top Ten PC Games for the Holidays

The following article is a top ten list of the computer video games. The list was derived from gamers whom have come and have rated the computer video games. This top ten list is in no particular order.

Gears of war

Gears of war took all the award in 2006 for game of the year for Xbox 360 now it has come to the PC and still has all the flair of its Xbox 360 counterpart. The PC version has 5 new campaign missions, new multi player modes and more, go check it out!

Enemy Territory Quake Wars

If you like sci-fi multi player co-op type games then you will love Quake Wars. Quake Wars combines the fast-paced action of a shooter with the skill

of a strategy game to provide an amazing online gaming experience. To read the review of it please go to Enemy Territory Quake Wars Reviewed.

Halo 2

Halo 2 one of the best selling Xbox games has now come to the PC. The PC version has all the same elements has the Xbox counterpart plus a multi player map pack and a level editor. This particular title also needs Windows Vista to run.

F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon

F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon) is an intense combat experience with rich atmosphere and a deeply intense paranormal storyline presented entirely in first person. This first person shooter combines creepy horror with gorgeous visual effects which elevates the game to a new intensity.

Need for speed Prostreet

Design and tweak your car to perfection, then lay it all on the line in high-speed events around the globe. Battle your newly designed car in four distinct racing styles- grip, drag, drift and the all-new speed challenge.

Warcraft 2 and Warcraft 3

Probably two of the best real time strategy based PC games on the market. They also can give you a back story on World of Warcraft one of the best online multiple player real time strategy based game on the market.

Deus Ex game of the Year edition

Deus Ex's game play features and story elements, as well as the expansiveness of the game's environments and the scope of its setting, add up to a satisfying and unusual experience. You have the ability to create stand alone missions, build new 3D maps or modify existing maps, and create new conversations between characters.

Civilization IV

With over 6 million units sold and unprecedented critical acclaim from fans and press around the world, Sid Meier's Civilization is recognized as one of the greatest PC game franchises of all-time. If you have any interest in strategy games, world history, or simply not sleeping at night then get Civilization IV a try.

Neverwinter Nights

Neverwinter Nights basically contains four different elements: the campaign, the toolset, the Dungeon Master client, and the multi player mode. Neverwinter Nights is one of those exceedingly rare games that has a

lot to offer virtually everyone, even if they aren't already into RPGs.

Elder Scrolls 3 morrowind game of the Year edition

It's a beautiful, sprawling, and open-ended game that lets you play pretty much however you like as long as you're willing to fill in a few blanks using your imagination. The Elder Scrolls III game of the year edition includes: morrowind - The Elder Scrolls III along with full versions of Bloodmoon and Tribunal.

So which computer video games are the best? You decide, if you love first person shooters, Gears of war and Halo 2 are a good choice. For real time strategy based games, Warcraft 2 and Warcraft 3 are good choices. Need for speed Prostreet would be the pick if you are big into racing. Neverwinter Nights would be a good choice for a pure Role Playing game experience. There is no decisive winner, they are all great computer video games, if you have not played them then I suggest giving them a shot.

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