Celiac With No Symptoms?

[emerac]

Hi, I have been type 1 diabetic (insulin-dependent) for 9 years. All of my blood work results have been very good the whole time I've been diabetic, good blood sugar results, heart health, kidneys and liver have been fine, etc.....until this past week when I was told by my endocrinologist that this round of bloodwork showed that I am deficient in certain antibodies and needed to go back for more bloodwork to test for celiac disease.

OK, I looked up the symptoms for celiac disease, and I don't seem to have them. I have no digestive issues, no abdominal pain, bloating, or anything like that. And I eat a pretty gluten-heavy diet. I just don't match the profile of a person with celiac disease at all. However, I do already have an auto-immune disease, namely type 1 diabetes, so I know I am at risk for other complications.

Do you know if there is any other reason to have this impaired level of antibodies besides celiac? The lab slip he gave me designates a test called "tissue transglutamine antibodies."

BTW, as far as I know, celiac disease does not run in my family, I don't know of anyone who has it. As a matter of fact, diabetes doesn't run in my family either. I'm the only one who has it.

Thank you for your help!

E

[KaitiUSA]

Diabetes is linked with celiac. I know several people with both.

Some people do not get any symptoms at all with celiac and there are over 200 symptoms that can come with it. Even without symptoms you are still getting damage if you are celiac. It is definitely worth getting checked for.

[skoki-mom]

Hi E,

Yes, it is very possible to have it and not have symptoms. I am one of those people, so I know exactly what you mean! I ate a diet very high in gluten (especially while I was awaiting my biopsy, lol), and never experienced any digestive troubles.

[flo127]

There is definitely a link between Type 1 diabetes and celiac. Seems in people with type 1 diabetes you can be asymptomatic for celiac. For some reason, the symptoms aren't as pronounced for celiac as they would be in someone without type 1 diabetes.

[Nevadan]

OK, I looked up the symptoms for celiac disease, and I don't seem to have them.  I have no digestive issues, no abdominal pain, bloating, or anything like that. E

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you had a bone density test lately? Osteoporosis occurs in over 50% of people with celiac disease, symptoms or not.

George