Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease EP027
06/09/17 • 31 min
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: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:
Previous Episode
Celiac Disease and the Media EP026
The gluten-free movement is often dismissed in the media as a fad. Even so-called experts actively discredit the gluten-free diet and apply a negative connotation to terms like PWAG. Have you ever wondered why there is so much misinformation about celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity in the media? And who sponsors the coverage that dissuades people from going gluten-free?
Today, Nadine explains how the big business of wheat affects which voices we hear in media treatment of the gluten-free movement. In addition, she covers how the for-profit healthcare system in the US affects the timely diagnosis of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Celiac disease is a medical, social and economic issue with political implications. Listen and learn how to choose high quality, nutrient dense foods, and leverage your power as a gluten-free consumer!
What’s Discussed:Misinformation in the media
- Some coverage dissuades from adopting a gluten-free diet
- Program/print sponsors may be corporations that depend on people eating wheat
- Wheat/grain industry threatened by rise of gluten-free diet (33% of people in US and Canada on variation of gluten free diet)
The illusion of options in the area of food production
- 8-10 corporations own nearly every food company
- Nadine patronizes farmer’s markets, co-ops and local companies
Nadine’s rules for buying food products
- Label must be clear, easy to read
- Five or fewer ingredients
- Must be able to picture each ingredient
The importance of reading labels
- May be gluten in products that are typically gluten-free (i.e.: pesto, kombucha)
- Companies are given six months to update labels after making changes
- Barley and rye are not on list of allergens
Nadine’s story
- Multi-system organ failure
- Negative test for celiac disease despite being homozygous gene carrier
- Healed quickly on a Paleo diet
Why countries with universal healthcare take celiac disease seriously
- Early diagnosis saves money
- Finland: 70% of people w/ celiac disease have been diagnosed
- Italy, UK and Canada: 30-40% have been diagnosed
- US: Less than 1% of those with celiac disease have been diagnosed
How long it takes to be diagnosed with celiac disease (for-profit vs. universal systems)
- US: 9-15 years
- Italy: 2-3 weeks
How doctors/experts discredit gluten-free as a fad
- Use PWAG as derogatory term
- Placebo effect
- Nocebo effect (expect to feel poorly)
The inaccuracy of blood tests for celiac disease
- 70% false negative
How companies profit from undiagnosed celiac patients
- Products geared toward people with health issues (i.e.: compression socks, hypoallergenic sheets)
The prominence of wheat as a publicly traded commodity
- Top export of US/Canada
The health risk associated with genetically modified wheat
The benefits of a gluten-free diet
- Symptoms resolve
- No longer need medicine, surgery
Nadine’s advice re: selecting gluten-free products
- Avoid nutrient deficient gluten-free options (cheap fillers, empty carbs)
- Focus on high quality, nutrient dense foods
How to leverage your power as a gluten-free consumer
- Hold food producers accountable (standards, production methods)
- ‘Vote carefully with your dollar’
- Speak up when you see inaccurate media coverage
Why you cannot assume that gluten-free menu items are truly free of gluten
- Uneducated restaurant staff
- Possibility of contamination, cross-contamination
What a ‘gluten free’ designation means in labeling
- GIG certification indicates less than ten parts per million
- Standard in US/Europe is less than 20 parts per million
The Gluten Free RN mission
- Educate people globally about celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity
- Empower people to improve their health and quality of life with food
Next Episode
The Relationship Between the Respiratory System and Celiac Disease EP028
The average human takes between 14 and 20 breaths per minute. But if you are conscious of those breaths, that’s a problem. Perhaps you’re experiencing chest tightness, clogged sinuses or a nagging cough that make you very aware of every breath you take. If so, the ingestion of gluten may be a contributing factor to these respiratory issues.
Today Nadine explores the relationship between the lungs and celiac disease, offering anecdotal evidence as well as explaining the way that inflammation can lead to a number of respiratory problems. Because 70-90% of your immune system is housed in your intestines, it is no surprise that a leaky gut could make you more vulnerable to respiratory tract infections.
Despite the fact that current literature considers respiratory challenges to be an atypical presentation of celiac disease, the Gluten Free RN argues that there is enough anecdotal evidence to merit further study. Listen in to understand the vitamin deficiencies that likely contribute to respiratory issues, how those health concerns might be corrected by going gluten-free, and why your body heals more quickly on a high fat, whole food diet. It’s time to go gluten-free and breathe easy again!
What’s Discussed:
How gluten ingestion likely affects the respiratory system
- Body keeps fluids separate unless tissues leaky
- Gluten alters epithelial tissue, including that of lungs
Nadine’s anecdotal evidence of a connection between gluten and respiratory issues
- Fellow nurse had lung removed as child
- Always needed inhalers
- Went gluten-free with Nadine
- Inflammation in lungs cleared, asthma gone
- No longer needed inhalers
Respiratory issues that may be corrected on a gluten-free diet
- Anemia (lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen causes shortness of breath with minimal exertion)
- Recurrent respiratory infections
- Cystic fibrosis
- COPD
- IPH (bleeding lung)
- Pulmonary edema
Vitamin deficiencies caused by gluten ingestion that lead to respiratory problems
- Vitamin K deficiencies initiate easy bruising, nose bleeds and bleeding lung
Why going gluten-free eliminates many respiratory issues
- Gluten causes inflammation (-itis = inflammation)
- Removing the cause heals intestines, repairs immune system
- Patients operate on a higher level
Common symptoms of respiratory issues
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness
- Nagging cough
- Clogged sinuses
- Post-nasal drip
Nadine’s recommendations around diet and nutrition
- Gluten- and dairy-free at a minimum
- Ideally variation of Paleo diet
- Whole foods (meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds)
- High fat (body needs to absorb fat-soluble nutrients – A, D, E & K)
- Maintain Gluten Zero (takes six months to a year for intestinal villi to heal)
Why your body heals more quickly on a high fat, whole food diet
- Body knows how to break down, utilize nutrients
- Fat-soluble vitamins repair connective tissue, leaky gut
The genes that indicate a predisposition for celiac disease
- HLA-DQ2
- HLA-DQ8
“Respiratory Symptoms as Atypical Manifestation of Celiac Disease” in the Pediatric Oncall Journal
“Pneumococcal Septic Shock in the Setting of Hyposplenic Celiac Disease” in Hospital Physician
Connect with Nadine:If you like this episode you’ll love
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