Does Celiac Disease Protect Against Aspects of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?

Interesting, thanks. I sure would love to know of any studies that look at the case where a celiac diagnosis is made prior to a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis (typically it's the T1 first, then celiac, as I'm sure you know).

This is fascinating. My daughter has both celiac and type 1 diabetes. The combination makes social life difficult (as well as physical health). It is really nice to read something that suggests something positive about celiac other than the many dire possibilities and connections with other diseases!

Thank you for all the work you do! I refer to your safe and unsafe list all the time.

Thank you for the good news. I am type 1 diabetic diagnosed 40 years prior to coeliac. I showed a mild retina alteration about 30 years ago. ever since then i have not developed any further diabetes complication to the amazement of my diabetes doctor.

This is a really interesting article. I am both a type one diabetic and have celiac disease. I got type 1 when I was five years old and now am 21. I am hanging on by a thread with it because being on an insulin pump tends to be a real struggle for me because of skin irritation and the sites giving me issues but I cope with it. When I was a sophomore in high school I was tested for celiac disease because my endocrinologist had a strong feeling that I was carrying the symptoms for it. She sent me to a doctor she recommended and turned out I was borderline celiac and still am. I can't say I follow the celiac diet to a T because it is hard to handle and keep in line but I try my best and try to cut out gluten in my diet as often and much as possible. I face the fact that nothing is perfect and celiac is a tough thing to deal with. A combination of both these diseases really hit hard and already having diabetes since 11 years prior really scared me because many of the alternatives include rice and high starch and carbohydrate food products and being on an insulin pump, your goal is to eat healthy and try to eliminate those types of things as much as possible to control sugar as well as keep your insulin intake down. I am personally turned off by rice and the thoughts of eating it just scare me because I always feel awful afterwards. I choose to not eat it even though I am celiac dependent. All I can say to anyone who is in this type of situation is to take everything day by day, you can definitely take it on if you put your mind to it. It is hard but everything in life is and this is just another step you have to take to make it through your life and to live a healthy and happily as well. Good luck to all.

Thank you for this article and also thanks to the comment by Holly. I was diagnosed with Type 1 at age 3 and am now 31. I was on in insulin pump from 2004 until this past January, when my pump broke and I decided to try injections for a time. I also have problems with irritation of the skin and wanted to see if using injections would work. I have now been on injections for 5 months and my HbA1C has run about the same as when on the pump. You might give the pump a rest for a few months and then try again. Sometimes I think that we need a break.

Also, I started having stomach issues last year and was finally diagnosed with gluten sensitivity, along with other sensitivities to rice, pork, chicken, beef, soy, corn, pumpkin and coconut. What am I supposed to eat, especially when this culture lives off of rice and chicken?

So, Holly, I understand your dilemmna. Because I live in Thailand, I can't test for celiac, but I could do a test by Enterolab that tested for food sensitivities. You might also check out MRT (Mediator Release Test). If rice irritates your stomach you might also be sensitive to that. I am. When I return to the states this year I will test for celiac disease and other food sensitivities.

Blessings and yes, I agree that if you put your mind to it, you can have a blessed life. It is challenging, no doubt.

Interesting, thanks. I sure would love to know of any studies that look at the case where a celiac diagnosis is made prior to a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis (typically it's the T1 first, then celiac, as I'm sure you know).

I have celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. My brother also has celiac disease - he was diagnosed about 3 years ago and was just recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I am now what they are calling borderline diabetic.