Wondering About My Husband

[tgrand]

Ok, so my 2 yr old daughter and I are gluten and casein free. Gluten free since October, casein free just recently. Our home is 100% gluten free, thus my husband eats mostly gluten free except for some stuff outside the home at work, etc. Well, he's just recently started having some health issues. Actually, I've been thinking for a while that something just wasn't quite right with him, but you know how some men are about going to the doctor. He's always sleepy/tired. So, he recently got some lab work back indicating he has osteopenia, Vit D deficiency, elevated parathryoid AND prediabetes with a 112 fasting glucose. He's always been 135lbs, but has lost about 10 lbs recently probably b/c we went low sugar, low carb. He's 32. Anyway, the endocrinologist says it's all likely due to lack of Vit D, except for the prediabetes part which he is not worried about at all. I see some potential Celiac or gluten sensitivity connections. I also know that diabetes and thryoid stuff can relate to gluten - what an interesting combination. Obviously Vit D and osteopenia can have a connection to Celiac. No digestive issues, just tired a lot. But, this could be b/c of his health issues. At the very least he's gluten lite.

The doc said to take Vit D, come back in a month and he'll check the parathyroid and do a glucose test for diabetes though, again, he's not thinking the pre-diabetes problem is anything. I'm a little unsure about that. Any level that's out of line a little has to be due to something, ya know. But, also he's very sedentary at work.

Sorry for all the details, just wanted to share as much as possible to get the most help from all you well informed Celiacs!

So, do you think it's worth the money to have him tested through Enterolab just to be sure? I don't really want to spend that much money right now, but obviously I'm concerned about his health too. He has no family history of Celiac that we know of, but his aunt has had Rheumatoid Arthritis all her life.

And please - I'd rather not hear from people who ONLY want to tell me that Enterolab is not mainstream science. I will respect your opinion, please respect mine, so don't highjack this post by dissing them. Thank you very much!

Respectfully,

TGrand

[Ursa Major]

Every one of your husband's health problems could be caused by a gluten intolerance. So, I think testing with Enterolab would be a wise choice, as then you will know for sure. If you do the whole works, you will also know his genes, which could definitely be helpful as well. Plus, he might be having a problem with dairy, which could also be the cause of his problems!

The best way to get vitamin D (other than lots of sunshine, which won't fix a deficiency, though) would be cod liver oil. I take Carlson's cod liver oil, because it is considered the best, and it doesn't taste gross. It is lemon flavoured, and if I can take it, anybody can (I simply can't take things that taste terrible, they make me gag and throw up).

I was very deficient in vitamin D three years ago. I took two tablespoons of cod liver oil every day for a year, at which point my level was a little too high, so I eased off a little on it.

One single reading of 112 as a fasting glucose doesn't mean a thing. Besides, that is not even considered too high and not really a cause for worry. Usually my fasting glucose is around 90 (whenever I check, which isn't all that often), but once it was 120. One time out of 50 or so means nothing.

I have a glucose meter because my mother and older brother both developed type 2 diabetes at my age, so I check periodically, just to be safe.

I think your husband ought to try being 100% gluten-free, as well as being dairy free. You never know, it might be very helpful. And since with Enterolab you still get accurate test results within a year of going gluten-free, you don't have to wait.