Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Diabetic Celiac Question.


Imanistj

Recommended Posts

Imanistj Contributor

I first began the gluten-free diet in August but went off for a biopsy. I have been gluten-free continuously since around September 25. I have said all along I don't feel any better while on the diet. My main complaint that resulted in the diagnosis was extremely severe muscle pain and exhaustion (way beyond fatigue) after only a few minutes of moderate exertion. It is cool now so the symptoms aren't as severe as they were in the summer. Maybe this is a slight improvement and maybe it simply reflects that working in cooler temperatures is less stressful. My question is this: Have any diabetics found that their fasting glucose levels are lower and more stable after going on a gluten-free diet? I do a finger stick once daily, before breakfast and get an A1C every 3 months. At first I thought it was due to not having baked goods available as often as pre gluten-free diet. I am probably the most picky and dissatisfied person ever to have to eat gluten-free. I don't mind changing other recipes to gluten-free, but I find that all gluten-free baked goods substitutes are awful! This is just me--I have tried numerous scratch recipes, mixes and ready made baked items and the ONLY one (so far, I keep trying new things) that I found to be as good as the gluten recipe is Bob's Red Mill chocolate cake mix. I need to mention at this point that I don't really follow a sensible diabetic diet. I learned I was a latent diabetic while pregnant with my second child 36 years ago. I didn't develop type two diabetes until four years ago. I am on metformin and that keeps my A1Cs from 6.9 to 7.4 even though I eat lots of stuff that I shouldn't, or in the wrong quantities. Since being diagnosed, my morning fasting glucose tests seldom were over 100. Since going gluten-free I never cross 100 except for the day after I was involved in an accident. No injuries, but plenty of stress until it was acknowledged I wasn't at fault. Even if I have fasted less than eight hours, my tests are usually in the 80s, rarely in the 70s and occasionally in the 90s. Do any other diabetics find their glucose in better control while on the gluten-free diet?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



kenlove Rising Star

Sounds a lot like what I went through. Althougfh celiac for about 5 years I was diagnosed with diabetes in May and have ben wathcing things closely since them. I did get a lot of help here from Missys Mom and other diabetic celiacs. My sugar seldom goes over 100 now unless I eat too much fruit. I take glipizide but no insulin yet although they keep telling me I should. I do make bitter melon juice and/or supplements. The bitter melon and banaba make a big difference and can lower the blood glocose for me.

being Gluten free helps of course but the high carbohydrates in some gluten-free things need to be watched. I stopped most pasta for example. Anyway you jjust need tobe on guard all the time. Good luck

ken

I first began the gluten-free diet in August but went off for a biopsy. I have been gluten-free continuously since around September 25. I have said all along I don't feel any better while on the diet. My main complaint that resulted in the diagnosis was extremely severe muscle pain and exhaustion (way beyond fatigue) after only a few minutes of moderate exertion. It is cool now so the symptoms aren't as severe as they were in the summer. Maybe this is a slight improvement and maybe it simply reflects that working in cooler temperatures is less stressful. My question is this: Have any diabetics found that their fasting glucose levels are lower and more stable after going on a gluten-free diet? I do a finger stick once daily, before breakfast and get an A1C every 3 months. At first I thought it was due to not having baked goods available as often as pre gluten-free diet. I am probably the most picky and dissatisfied person ever to have to eat gluten-free. I don't mind changing other recipes to gluten-free, but I find that all gluten-free baked goods substitutes are awful! This is just me--I have tried numerous scratch recipes, mixes and ready made baked items and the ONLY one (so far, I keep trying new things) that I found to be as good as the gluten recipe is Bob's Red Mill chocolate cake mix. I need to mention at this point that I don't really follow a sensible diabetic diet. I learned I was a latent diabetic while pregnant with my second child 36 years ago. I didn't develop type two diabetes until four years ago. I am on metformin and that keeps my A1Cs from 6.9 to 7.4 even though I eat lots of stuff that I shouldn't, or in the wrong quantities. Since being diagnosed, my morning fasting glucose tests seldom were over 100. Since going gluten-free I never cross 100 except for the day after I was involved in an accident. No injuries, but plenty of stress until it was acknowledged I wasn't at fault. Even if I have fasted less than eight hours, my tests are usually in the 80s, rarely in the 70s and occasionally in the 90s. Do any other diabetics find their glucose in better control while on the gluten-free diet?
missy'smom Collaborator

It's an interesting subject. There have been may studies that show a link between wheat and diabetes and celiac disease and diabetes, especially T1. I don't have any handy links at the moment but if you do a search here or on the internet in general you may find some interesting reading. Some folks have posted some links here in the recent past. LADA is another interesting form of diabetes. There seems to be a connection with other allergens and food intolerances as well-casein to name another. I am still exploring other possible connections between my BG and allergens. Dairy has seemed to elevate it in an experiment I did in the past. I am currently undergoing further allergy testing and will be watching BGs carefully as I proceed with a doctor supervised elimination-challenge with foods that I have reacted to.

kenlove Rising Star

I was hoping you would show up here (^_^)

It's an interesting subject. There have been may studies that show a link between wheat and diabetes and celiac disease and diabetes, especially T1. I don't have any handy links at the moment but if you do a search here or on the internet in general you may find some interesting reading. Some folks have posted some links here in the recent past. LADA is another interesting form of diabetes. There seems to be a connection with other allergens and food intolerances as well-casein to name another. I am still exploring other possible connections between my BG and allergens. Dairy has seemed to elevate it in an experiment I did in the past. I am currently undergoing further allergy testing and will be watching BGs carefully as I proceed with a doctor supervised elimination-challenge with foods that I have reacted to.
missy'smom Collaborator
I was hoping you would show up here (^_^)

Nice seeing you too Ken! :D

missy'smom Collaborator

Here's some reading material.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

one more mile Contributor

As both are autoimmune diseases so I can see how they are related. My A1C is not down yet but I did get my first 100 as a fasting blood sugar. Down from 127 with 116 being my unhealthy normal since I was a teen. I am now 46. Without the need for 15 hours of sleep a day I am more active and try to walk 10,000 steps three or four times a week. Not poisoning my body with gluten probably leaves it with more energy to deal with other things.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      4

      Son's legs shaking

    2. - lizzie42 replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      4

      Son's legs shaking

    3. - Scott Adams replied to Russ H's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Anti-endomysial Antibody (EMA) Testing

    4. - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      4

      Son's legs shaking

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Paulaannefthimiou's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      2

      Bob red mill gluten free oats

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,869
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    MaryannHall
    Newest Member
    MaryannHall
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine.  Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine.  Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and  Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats.  Meat, especially organ meats like liver, are the best sources of Thiamine, B12, and the six other B vitamins and important minerals like iron.   Thiamine has antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Thiamine is important to our immune systems.  We need more thiamine when we're physically ill or injured, when we're under stress emotionally, and when we exercise, especially outside in hot weather.  We need thiamine and other B vitamins like Niacin B 3 to keep our gastrointestinal tract healthy.  We can't store thiamine for very long.  We can get low in thiamine within three days.  Symptoms can appear suddenly when a high carbohydrate diet is consumed.  (Rice and beans are high in carbohydrates.)  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so symptoms can wax and wane depending on what one eats.  The earliest symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are easily contributed to other things or life events and dismissed.   Correcting nutritional deficiencies needs to be done quickly, especially in children, so their growth isn't stunted.  Nutritional deficiencies can affect intelligence.  Vitamin D deficiency can cause short stature and poor bone formation.   Is your son taking anything for the anemia?  Is the anemia caused by B12 or iron deficiency?  
    • lizzie42
      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc.  Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food. The only processed food they eat regularly is a bowl of Cheerios here and there.  Could shaking legs be a symptom of just a one-time gluten exposure? I guess there's no way to know for sure if they're getting absolutely zero exposure because they do go to school a couple times a week. We do homeschool but my son does a shared school 2x a week and my daughter does a morning Pre-K 3 x a week.  At home our entire house is strictly gluten free and it is extremely rare for us to eat out. If we eat at someone else's house I usually just bring their food. When we have play dates we bring all the snacks, etc. I try to be really careful since they're still growing. They also, of course, catch kids viruses all the time so I  want to make sure I know whether they're just sick or they've had gluten. It can be pretty confusing when they're pretty young to even be explaining their symptoms! 
    • Scott Adams
      That is interesting, and it's the first time I heard about the umbilical cord beings used for that test. Thanks for sharing!
    • knitty kitty
      @lizzie42, You're being a good mom, seeking answers for your son.  Cheers! Subclinical thiamine deficiency commonly occurs with anemia.  An outright Thiamine deficiency can be precipitated by the consumption of a high carbohydrate meal.   Symptoms of Thiamine deficiency include feeling shakey or wobbly in the legs, muscle weakness or cramps, as well as aggression and irritability, confusion, mood swings and behavior changes.  Thiamine is essential to the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine which keep us calm and rational.   @Jsingh, histamine intolerance is also a symptom of Thiamine deficiency.  Thiamine is needed to prevent mast cells from releasing histamine at the slightest provocation as is seen in histamine intolerance.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins and Vitamin C are needed to clear histamine from the body.  Without sufficient thiamine and other B vitamins to clear it, the histamine builds up.  High histamine levels can change behavior, too.  High histamine levels are found in the brains of patients with schizophrenia.  Thiamine deficiency can also cause extreme hunger or conversely anorexia.   High carbohydrate meals can precipitate thiamine deficiency because additional thiamine is required to process carbohydrates for the body to use as fuel.  The more carbohydrates one eats daily, the more one needs additional thiamine above the RDA.  Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses. Keep in mind that gluten-free processed foods like cookies and such are not required to be fortified and enriched with vitamins and minerals like their gluten containing counterparts are.  Limit processed gluten-free foods.  They are often full of empty calories and unhealthy saturated fats and additives, and are high in histamine or histamine release triggers.  It's time you bought your own vitamins to supplement what is not being absorbed due to malabsorption of Celiac disease.  Benfotiamine is a form of Thiamine that has been shown to improve intestinal health as well as brain function. Do talk to your doctors and dieticians about supplementing with the essential vitamins and minerals while your children are growing up gluten free.  Serve nutritionally dense foods.  Meats and liver are great sources of B vitamins and minerals. Hope this helps!  Keep us posted on your progress!
    • Scott Adams
      Oats naturally contain a protein called avenin, which is similar to the gluten proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye. While avenin is generally considered safe for most people with celiac disease, some individuals, around 5-10% of celiacs, may also have sensitivity to avenin, leading to symptoms similar to gluten exposure. You may fall into this category, and eliminating them is the best way to figure this out. Some people substitute gluten-free quinoa flakes for oats if they want a hot cereal substitute. If you are interested in summaries of scientific publications on the topic of oats and celiac disease, we have an entire category dedicated to it which is here: https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/oats-and-celiac-disease-are-they-gluten-free/   
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.