Since Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease are both autoimmune diseases, they affect how your body digests food. Living with one of these diseases can be challenging to manage on its own. So, knowing about these conditions, how they are related, their symptoms and how to manage them is even more important for people managing both.Â
Understanding Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease
Understanding how each disease affects your body in its own ways can help make it easier to understand what happens when both diseases exist at the same time.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone crucial for regulating blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body.
When these insulin-producing cells are damaged, the body can’t properly control its blood sugar, leading to high levels of sugar in the bloodstream. People with Type 1 diabetes typically require life-long insulin therapy through injections or an insulin pump to manage their blood sugar levels and stay healthy. This condition usually develops in children or young adults, although it can occur at any age.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an immune system-related disorder triggered by eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When someone with celiac disease consumes gluten, it causes the immune system to attack the lining of the small intestine. This damage makes it hard for the body to absorb important nutrients from food.
This condition can lead to various symptoms like stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, skin rashes and even mood problems. The only effective treatment for celiac disease is following a strict gluten-free diet, which means avoiding any foods that contain gluten, to manage symptoms and prevent damage to the intestine.
The Link Between Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease
Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease are both autoimmune conditions, where the body’s immune system attacks its healthy cells by mistake. They often coexist in some individuals, possibly due to shared genetic factors.
Research suggests that people with Type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of developing celiac disease compared to the general population. Having one of these conditions might increase the likelihood of having the other.
There is also a tendency for autoimmune diseases to cluster in people. So, conditions such as autoimmune thyroid disease, adrenal disease, vitiligo and vitamin B12 deficiency may also be co-existent with Type 1 diabetes and/or celiac disease.
Health care providers often recommend screening individuals with Type 1 diabetes for celiac disease because of this potential link, aiming to catch and manage both conditions early if they occur together.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes symptoms typically involve increased thirst, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss. People may feel extremely hungry even after eating, experience fatigue and have blurry vision. Mood changes or irritability can also occur. These symptoms may develop rapidly, especially in children.
A Type 1 diabetes diagnosis involves several steps. Health care providers will review symptoms and conduct blood tests. These tests measure blood sugar levels. If results show high blood sugar, further tests like the A1C test or oral glucose tolerance test might be done to confirm the diagnosis. Providers might also check for specific antibodies related to Type 1 diabetes in the blood. Additionally, they consider symptoms and medical history to confirm the diagnosis accurately.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease can cause various symptoms. These might include stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea and feeling tired all the time. Some people might have skin rashes or might lose weight without trying. Others might feel anxious. If someone has celiac disease, eating foods with gluten, like bread or pasta, can make these symptoms worse.
Diagnosing celiac disease usually involves a few steps. Health care providers start by asking about symptoms and family history. Blood tests check for certain antibodies linked to the disease. If these tests point to celiac disease, a biopsy might be done.
During a biopsy, a tiny piece of the small intestine is taken for examination. This helps confirm the diagnosis by looking for damage caused by the disease. Sometimes, a gluten-free diet is advised for a while to see if symptoms improve, which also supports the diagnosis if they do.Â
Living with Both Conditions: Management and Lifestyle
Living with both Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease involves careful management of diet and health.
While a gluten-free diet is necessary for those with celiac disease, its impact on Type 1 diabetes control varies. Some people find better blood sugar management with a gluten-free diet, but other people might experience challenges in carbohydrate management due to gluten-free alternatives’ higher glycemic index.
Individuals with Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease need to monitor their nutrient intake due to potential malabsorption issues. Working closely with health care providers and dietitians is crucial.
People living with both will also need to balance insulin needs with varying carbohydrate content in gluten-free foods to ensure proper absorption of nutrients despite potential intestinal damage from celiac disease.
More to Read
- Is Gluten-Free Healthy? Learn about Going Gluten-Free
- 5 Ways to Improve Gut Health
- Living with Diabetes: Empower Yourself to Stay Healthy
- Diabetes in Children: What Parents Should Know
Medically reviewed by Kashif M. Munir, MD.
