Ground-breaking pilot programme in Warwick
A new treatment approach for diabetes patients is being pioneered in Warwick – combining clinical care with treatment for the mental health issues that often accompany the illness.
The service offers multidisciplinary, patient-centred care for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who are struggling with disordered eating. This includes those living with T1DE, a condition previously known as diabulimia.
The innovative programme, being run by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT), promises to transform the lives of many of the 400,000 people in Britain with Type 1 diabetes, as well as those with Type 2 diabetes.
40% of women with diabetes suffer from eating disorders
Studies show that up to 40% of women and girls, and around 15% of men and boys, with Type 1 diabetes experience some form of disordered eating.
In the past year, 37 people with Type 1 Diabetes and Disordered Eating (T1DE) have benefited from the pilot service run by the Clinic for Eating Disorders and Diabetes at the Aspin Centre in Warwick.
Following this early success, the trial has been granted funding until March 2026.
‘For the first time in a long time, I have a quality of life’
Marion (not her real name), who has been living with type 1 diabetes for 18 years, having been diagnosed in her mid-20s, said: “I was at breaking point. I couldn’t cope anymore. My GP and specialist diabetes nurse made referrals to CWPT’s team at the Aspen Centre.
“I was finally on the path to receiving the help I’d been needing. It was a safe space where I was able to let my guard down and be vulnerable. No judgment, just genuine support where I was seen as a person and not a bunch of individual conditions.
“I needed to realise that my eating disorder was a mental health issue and not an issue with food, and this was really important for me in starting my road to recovery. Without this intervention, I don’t know where I’d be. I have my life ahead of me and I feel that I am just now starting to live. For the first time in a long time, I have a quality of life.”
‘A holistic, groundbreaking approach’
Dr Richard Onyon, chief medical officer at CWPT, said: “Developing an integrated diabetes and eating disorder service requires collaboration at every level.
“By working together with colleagues across healthcare teams and people with lived experience, we can create a holistic, groundbreaking approach that addresses both the physical and emotional needs of patients. This pioneering service not only provides comprehensive care but also sets a new standard in supporting individuals facing the complex challenges of managing both conditions.”
In June the UK Professional Conference on Eating Disorders and Diabetes (UKPCEDD) took place at the University of Warwick. It was the first time experts from both children’s and adult services came together to focus on the link between diabetes and eating disorders. The event provided valuable opportunities for healthcare professionals, researchers, and service providers to connect and share ideas.
