Celiac Disease and Diabetes

People are becoming more and more aware of the celiac disease. It is a good sign that scientists are heading towards discovering about the disease, so that not only the disease may be in control, but also the research may lead to the prevention of diabetes.

It may be long known that gluten is associated with celiac disease. But it may be a news that the disease affects primarily diabetics and not the general population. Amongst diabetics too, it is the diabetic I patients who are affected and not those with diabetes II.

Gluten and Type I Diabetes

Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye and it offers elasticity to the flour of these grains so that their dough stays in shape, can rise and the final product becomes chewy because of gluten.

However, gluten also has become notorious because of its association with celiac disease. Celiac disease patients if eat gluten their small intestine is attacked by their own immune system. Because of this, nutrients are not absorbed properly by the intestine. Celiac disease if remained ignored, can cause infertility, osteoporosis, neurological diseases and sometimes even cancer. The director of research Bana Jabri, of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center says that if these patients re given gluten-free diet, symptoms are tremendously improved.

The causes of celiac disease are not properly known, but it is sure that it includes heredity factor. Person not having celiac gene may become stress-free because there is only 1 percent of the possibility for him to be affected by the disease, says Bana Jabri. Jabri says further that this clears the relation between celiac disease and type I diabetes and knowing more about celiac disease will bring more understanding about type I diabetes.

External Causes of Celiac Disease

Jabri further informs that external factors too are involved in the disease, because in two identical twins, one may be affected by the disease, while the other may not be. There is much resemblance between celiac disease and type I diabetes and so scientists are of opinion that same factors may be causing the two conditions. There re many theories about the external factors, which include gut bacteria, viruses, and western diet. TEDDY, i.e. The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young, which is a study devoted to type I diabetes, is concerned about the celiac disease factors too.

Type I diabetes is diagnosed faster than celiac disease. The later may remain undetected even throughout life. It was earlier believed that celiac disease affects in childhood resulting in weight loss and chronic diarrhea. However this view is changing with advances in research.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease and Diabetes

Celiac disease, along with other symptoms which include abdominal bloating, pale, fatty and foul-smelling stool, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, fatigue, canker sores, weight loss, unexplained anemia, itchy skin rashes called dermatitis, tingling sensation in hands and feet, bone and joint pain, osteoporosis or bone loss, irregular menstruation, infertility, repeated miscarriage, etc. causes also interference with blood glucose management in diabetics.

Unprocessed Food Instead of Gluten-free Food is Better

A person with type I diabetes and celiac disease, if eats gluten-free products, may consume more carbohydrates in reality. Instead, switching to unprocessed food is a great strategy to manage both the diseases. Celiac disease patients are commonly lactase intolerant too and so cutting dairy is also advisable. As the enzyme which digests dairy products is made in small intestine and celiac disease impair small intestine. If these changes re made in the diet, the patients my feel better because of decrease in insulin needs and hives and achieving healthy level of blood glucose.

Source: http://forecast.diabetes.org/celiac-jul2012?loc=rightrail1_forecast-celiac-disease_july2012