Diabetes and Celiac Disease

Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease appear to be related. People with celiac disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten (found in wheat, rye, and barley). These people cannot eat any foods that contain gluten. People who have diabetes and celiac disease face additional challenges with their diet because, by avoiding all gluten-containing foods, they also lose a predominant source of low-sugar carbohydrates. In turn, the gluten-free diet affects blood sugar levels. Dietitians in the Kovler Diabetes Center work closely with patients who have both diabetes and celiac disease to help them adapt their eating patterns to accommodate the diabetes needs as well as their celiac needs. Our team also coordinates with Dr. Stefano Guandalini, Director of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center and a world-recognized expert on diagnosing and treating celiac disease.

Did you know?

Type 1 diabetes is 10-20 times more common among people with celiac disease than among the general population. Typically, people are diagnosed first with diabetes, which is much more commonly recognized by the public and medical professionals. Celiac disease often eludes diagnosis for months or even years.

Learn more:

• University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center-
  http://www.celiacdisease.net/
  https://celiacdisease.net/leadership-and-staff
• Celiac Disease Foundation-http://www.celiac.org/
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, National Institutes of Health-
  http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/