Struggling to maintain control of your blood sugar? A gluten-free diet may be the answer! If you have one autoimmune disorder, you have a 30-50% greater risk of developing another, and both type 1 diabetes and celiac disease fall into that category.
As more and more research points to an enormous overlap between type 1 diabetes and celiac disease, it is in our best interests to mitigate additional risk by getting screened and/or adopting a gluten-free or Paleo diet to mitigate further risk. Today Nadine discusses the prevalence of diabetes, several research studies that explore the connection between type 1 diabetes and celiac disease, and the potential risks for type 1 diabetics who are undiagnosed celiac patients.
Listen and learn how your diet may be affecting your blood sugar and why going gluten-free could improve your health and quality of life!
What’s Discussed:
The prevalence of diabetes
- By 2050, half the population will have diabetes
- According to CDC, 29.1 million have diabetes
- One out of four don’t know they are diabetic
- 18,000 young people diagnosed from 2008-2009
The difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Minimize risk for type 2 through diet and exercise
- Type 1 is autoimmune disorder, don’t produce enough insulin to break down sugar
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes
- Extreme thirst
- Urgency to urinate frequently
- Fatigue
- Weakness
The enormous genetic overlap between type 1 diabetes and celiac disease
- Scottish study found 94% of type 1 diabetics were HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 gene carriers
- 100% overlap if include HLA-DQ2.2
- Prevalence of celiac disease among type 1 diabetics is 20% higher than general population
The importance of testing all type 1 diabetics for celiac disease annually
- Can develop celiac disease at any age
The consequences of undiagnosed celiac disease in children with type 1 diabetes
- Short stature
- Failure to thrive
- Early onset osteopenia, osteoporosis
- Easily broken or rubbery bones
- Difficulty maintaining glycemic control (low blood sugar, spikes)
- Anemia
The decreased quality of life for type 1 diabetics who are undiagnosed celiac
- Development of infections
- Difficulty with blood sugar maintenance
Research studies re: the percentages of type 1 diabetics who also have celiac disease
- Iraq – 11.2%
- Mexican participants – 5.9%
- Denmark – 12.3%
Nadine’s anecdotal evidence of the overlap
- Volunteers at community outreach clinic
- Young man struggling to control blood sugar
- Nadine recommended gluten-free diet
- Improved health and quality of life
Health risks associated with an inability to control blood sugar
- Blindness
- Kidney failure
- Amputation of extremities
- Difficulty healing wounds
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
Why carb counting doesn’t control blood sugar
- Carbs with little/no nutrient value cause spikes in blood sugar
The diet Nadine recommends for type 1 diabetics
- Variation of Paleo diet
- Nutrient dense foods
- Meat and fish
- Eggs
- Fruits and vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
The benefits of a gluten-free diet for type 1 diabetics
- Weight easier to control
- Immune system works better
- Tighter control on blood sugar
The lack of uniformity in screening guidelines
Additional autoimmune diseases that may be avoided with a gluten-free diet
- Multiple sclerosis
- Lupus
- Sjögren’s
- Scleroderma
- Autoimmune thyroiditis
- Graves’ disease
- Hashimoto’s
- Vitiligo
- Raynaud’s
Potential triggers for autoimmune disorders
- Gluten
- Change in microbiome
- Stress to body (i.e.: cold, food poisoning, travel)
Treatments for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Low FODMAPs or specific carb diet
- Rifaximin (antibiotic)
The dangers of maintaining high blood sugar
- Damage to kidneys, eyes, capillaries, fingers and toes
- Neuropathy
- Gastroparesis
The long history of a connection between type 1 diabetes and celiac disease
The need for information re: the connection in diabetic education services
Resources:
“Co-occurrence of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Celiac Disease” in the World Journal of Diabetes
“Coexistence of Coeliac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes” in Przeglad Gastroenterologiczny
“Screening for Celiac Disease in Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review” in AAP News and Journals
Connect with Nadine:
‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube
Books by Nadine:
Dough Nation: A Nurse’s Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism
