Celiac testing on low-carb diet (not gluten free)

[classydame]

Hello! I have been on a diet called Carb Nite for about 5 years. Basically, you eat low carb (~30 g carbs/day) 6 days a week, then you have one cheat period of 8 hours, one day a week. I'm not eating gluten free, but six days a week my diet is naturally low in gluten with the exception of condiments, etc. which may contain gluten in low amounts. On my cheat night I might eat noodles or bread and cookies or cupcakes, so there's definitely a lot of gluten there. I also have longer cheat periods when I go on vacation.

I had a check-up recently and have severe deficiencies including anemia, B12 deficiency, and magnesium deficiency. This seems odd to me for a diet that consists mostly of meat, fish, and low-carb green veggies. I've also had digestive and other health problems for a long time and I never considered celiac, but I'd like to be tested to see if it's a possibility. Would there be a good chance of having accurate results, or am I not eating enough gluten to be able to tell? I'd rather not eat large amounts of carbs every day (and gain weight) if I don't have to.

[cyclinglady]

On 5/31/2018 at 10:56 AM, classydame said:

Hello! I have been on a diet called Carb Nite for about 5 years. Basically, you eat low carb (~30 g carbs/day) 6 days a week, then you have one cheat period of 8 hours, one day a week. I'm not eating gluten free, but six days a week my diet is naturally low in gluten with the exception of condiments, etc. which may contain gluten in low amounts. On my cheat night I might eat noodles or bread and cookies or cupcakes, so there's definitely a lot of gluten there. I also have longer cheat periods when I go on vacation.

I had a check-up recently and have severe deficiencies including anemia, B12 deficiency, and magnesium deficiency. This seems odd to me for a diet that consists mostly of meat, fish, and low-carb green veggies. I've also had digestive and other health problems for a long time and I never considered celiac, but I'd like to be tested to see if it's a possibility. Would there be a good chance of having accurate results, or am I not eating enough gluten to be able to tell? I'd rather not eat large amounts of carbs every day (and gain weight) if I don't have to.

What a great question!  A gluten challenge runs anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks (google it).  You only need a few crackers a day.  I do not think you will gain a significant amount of weight.  I am on low carb, high fat and gluten free diet as I have diabetes too.   I get worrying about straying off the diet, but with your deficiencies, it is worth pursuing, in my non-medical opinion.  

[RMJ]

If you really want to be sure you’re eating plenty of gluten prior to testing, you can buy wheat gluten flour.  It is mainly protein.  I’m not sure how you would use it, however...

[Ennis-TX]

Vital wheat gluten, in the store over in the baking isles of walmart near the "Health" add ins. Should be in a glass jar. Take 1-2 tsp a day.....that should be be like eating a couple of slices of bread gluten wise with much less of the carb load. Or you can order vital wheat gluten online.