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Abstract Background Recent research indicates that patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at higher risk for disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) than their peers without diabetes. The present study aimed to explore the prevalence of DEBs in a sample of Italian children and adolescents with T1D and in matched-pair healthy controls during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 138 children and adolescents with T1D (aged 8.01–19.11 years, 65 boys) attending a Southern Italian diabetic service and 276 age- and gender-matched healthy peers voluntarily completed an online survey about eating behaviors (ChEAT and EAT-26), anthropometric characteristics, and clinical characteristics. Results 8.69% (N = 12) of participants with T1D and 13.4% (N = 37) of controls had ChEAT/EAT-26 scores indicating presence of DEBs, with no differences between patients—whether children (total ChEAT score F(1, 157) = .104, p = .748) or adolescents (total EAT-26 score F(1, 255) = .135, p = .731)—and healthy peers. zBMI values were lower than those measured in the latest diabetes visit (p

ObjectiveTo examine body image problems and their associations with disordered eating behavior in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and well-matched healthy peers.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, 183 adolescents with type 1 diabetes (13.02–18.05 years) were recruited from diabetes centers in southern Italy and compared to healthy peers matched for age and gender. Participants completed self-report measures of disordered eating behaviors (DEPS-r and EDI-3RF) and a gender-specific body image problem questionnaire (SATAQ-4R). Socio-demographic and clinical data (zBMI, HbA1c, and disease duration) were also collected. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were computed to determine the relative importance of diabetes variables and body image problems on participants’ disordered eating behaviors after controlling for demographic variables.ResultsAdolescents with type 1 diabetes showed diabetes-specific eating problems in 37.7% of cases and had more eating problem symptoms (assessed as drive for thinness and bulimia) than healthy peers. Male adolescents with type 1 diabetes did not display more body image problems (p > 0.05); females with type 1 diabetes compared to females in the control group were found to be more pressured by family (p = 0.025) but less by media (p = 0.022) to improve their appearance and attain a thin body. zBMI and body image problems contributed to a significant increase in disordered eating behavior risk both in male and female adolescents with diabetes and in healthy peers (zBMI 0.213 < β < 0.426, p < 0.05; body image 0.243 < β < 0.572, p < 0.05). None of the variables analyzed were found to significantly predict male bulimic symptoms (all β < 0.296, p > 0.05).ConclusionSince in adolescence type 1 diabetes and insulin therapy may increase the risk of weight gain and promote focus and attention on the body and thus contribute to the development of body image problems and disordered eating behaviors, continuity of medical, nutritional, and psychological care is needed.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by irreversible, autoimmune, pancreatic β-cell destruction. During the disease, some patients experience a phase of Partial Clinical Remission (PCR) known as “honeymoon.” This is a transitory period that is characterized by insulin production by residual β cells following DM diagnosis and initiating the insulin therapy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of insulin production on immune system after the onset of diabetes, and we showed that the duration of honeymoon period could be related to the onset of other autoimmune conditions. For this retrospective study, 159 children aged between 11 and 18 years with type 1 DM were eligible. They have been diagnosed diabetes at least 10 years ago and use exogenous insulin. Our results showed that younger age at the onset of Type 1 DM in children, predicts Celiac Disease. Female sex and low HCO3 levels at the onset of DM had a high predictive value on patients who did not experience longer Partial Clinical Remission phase. Patients with higher BMI at the diagnosis of DM experienced shorter honeymoon period than the average. Smaller of our patients who diagnosed just DM have more than 297 days honeymoon period with respect to patients with one associated autoimmune disease. This may be due to a continuous and prolonged stimulation of immune system during the period of honeymoon that predispose the patient to develop other TH1 diseases. The patients who experienced more than 297 days Partial Clinical Remission seem under risk of developing one other autoimmune disease more than the patients who experienced less than 297 days Partial Clinical Remission. We have to consider that this observation is very intriguing because many protocols spring-up to try prolonging the honeymoon period in patients with autoimmune DM. If this aim is important from a metabolic point of view, long follow-ups are needed to be sure that the risk of other autoimmune diseases does not increase.