ABSTRACT
Body image problems seem to be among the most difficult symptoms to resolve and most long lasting. The difficult parts of recovery can sometimes involve more than residual eating disorder symptoms. Some women developed diabetes-related medical complications. These were most likely a consequence of longstanding insulin restriction and exposure to the resulting high glucose ranges. However, the feeling of unfairness was a response to their knowledge that they were finally managing their diabetes as well as they could. It made them feel punished that they were getting hit by the damaging effects of their eating disorder just the same. Diabetes-related complications have a pervasively negative impact on quality of life. However, in some cases, women tried to use their complications as a way to motivate themselves to continue to manage their diabetes and their overall health as well as possible. Contradictory feelings of guilt and a sense of unfairness were quite common among the women with complications.
