Crumbling Pavlova

I simply cannot imagine being a young adult today struggling with having a chronic illness, such as diabetes, alongside the pressures of conforming to social expectations. We all have insecurities but I am sure that most of us can remember how amplified they were when going through puberty. It is unsurprising then that teenagers, especially girls, struggle with eating disorders whilst also dealing with their diabetes. Fortunately, there is support and resources out there which can help anyone (not just young adults) who are experiencing an unhealthy relationship with food which impacts on both their physical and mental wellbeing.

There is a really useful overview from JDRF on how eating disorders can impact on the diabetic community which explains some of the main challenges faced by those struggling with eating disorders. Their page also offers links to some brilliant resources and support available to those experiencing challenges with their relationship with food. These include the wonderful Swimming with the T1DE video (the result of a project from All Wales Diabetes Implementation Group (AWDIG), NHS Wales Health Collaborative, Cardiff and Vale UHB Psychology department, and funded by Public Health Wales NHS Trust).

Worth taking a look so that we can perhaps recognise the signs within someone we care about and offer appropriate and timely support…