Back Again - Low Iron, Elevated Sugar, And Uti ?

[anna34]

Hi everyone,

I haven't been here in a while because things have been going so well for DD7 and myself. We've been gluten-free for 2 years.

Recently, her routine bloodwork showed low iron (5) and slightly elevated sugar (7.2). I was told to put her on an iron supplement (300mg/day) and not worry about diabetes, but that her blood sugar will be checked again in a month.

The other concern is that she has recurrent UTIs (once a month, sometimes back to back/not clearing up). Scans have ruled out valve problems and any other scary concerns.

So, my questions are:

1. Why is her iron low when she has been taking a multivitamin with iron daily for 2 years? She isn't eating as much iron-rich food as I would like her to, but would that drop her iron to 5 even with the multi?

2. Is there a connection between iron and blood sugar?

3. I'm aware of the celiac-diabetes link, but is 7.2 a number to be concerned about?

4. Any thoughts on the UTI situation?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

[rami]

Hi everyone,

I haven't been here in a while because things have been going so well for DD7 and myself. We've been gluten-free for 2 years.

Recently, her routine bloodwork showed low iron (5) and slightly elevated sugar (7.2). I was told to put her on an iron supplement (300mg/day) and not worry about diabetes, but that her blood sugar will be checked again in a month.

The other concern is that she has recurrent UTIs (once a month, sometimes back to back/not clearing up). Scans have ruled out valve problems and any other scary concerns.

So, my questions are:

1. Why is her iron low when she has been taking a multivitamin with iron daily for 2 years? She isn't eating as much iron-rich food as I would like her to, but would that drop her iron to 5 even with the multi?

2. Is there a connection between iron and blood sugar?

3. I'm aware of the celiac-diabetes link, but is 7.2 a number to be concerned about?

4. Any thoughts on the UTI situation?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

Is the 7.2 value her Hemoglobin A1C value and do you know if they also performed a fasting blood sugar test? I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with all three of my kids and have pre-diabetes so I am fairly familiar with diabetes. I'm not sure if there is a link between the low iron and blood sugar but I know that I had to take an iron supplement during my pregnancies because my levels were low (it could have just been because I was pregnant and your body needs more iron then). Also I had numerous UTI's during my pregnancies and my OB told me that these were related to the diabetes. Basically my understanding was that when you have high blood sugar, glucose gets into your urine which causes a yeast infection/UTI. Once I got my blood sugars under control I stopped having the UTI's. Have you considered checking random blood sugars with a blood glucose monitor throughout the day? These can be really helpful in establishing a baseline and determining if certain food cause her blood sugar to increase. Hopefully my limited information helps, diabetes really scares me so I try to keep informed about it.

[GretaJane]

My 5 year old son was taking an supplement with iron (several times a week), and has been off gluten since he was a baby. His ferritin (storage iron) level tested at 5 and TIBC was high. This says he is anemic. I don't know if his sugar was ever tested. Since he tested low on iron in November, he has been on a highly absorbable liquid iron supplement (Floravital) every day. He will be retested at the end of this month. It is so frustrating to think you are doing everything right and still there are problems. He is Vit. D. deficient too.

Sorry I can't be of much help.

Oh, by the way, when I was between ages 1-4, I had many UTI's. The docs could not figure out why. I eventually heard someone say to always wipe front to back. I had potty trained myself by the age of 1, so my mom always let me do it independently and never checked to make sure I was wiping the right way. The UTI's cleared right up.

[anna34]

Thanks for the replies. We're checking her blood again in a couple of weeks. I've heard about Floravital from other people as well. I'll check it out. Perhaps it will work better than the capsules. She takes vit D daily. Maybe I should add C to help absorption.

[GottaSki]

Thanks for the replies. We're checking her blood again in a couple of weeks. I've heard about Floravital from other people as well. I'll check it out. Perhaps it will work better than the capsules. She takes vit D daily. Maybe I should add C to help absorption.

Just wanted to add a thought... she is school age - is it possible she is accidentally ingesting gluten at school, in friend's homes or other outside your home activities?

Has she had a recent celiac antibody panel - if so, please make sure they have included Deamidated Gliadin Peptide - both IgA and IgG.

My grandson (age 5 - gluten-free for 4 years) started school this year and had some nutrients fall along with two antibodies raise significantly - my daughter added a cloth napkin for him to use as a placemat at the lunch tables and it has helped.

[crubischko]

Hi everyone,

I haven't been here in a while because things have been going so well for DD7 and myself. We've been gluten-free for 2 years.

Recently, her routine bloodwork showed low iron (5) and slightly elevated sugar (7.2). I was told to put her on an iron supplement (300mg/day) and not worry about diabetes, but that her blood sugar will be checked again in a month.

The other concern is that she has recurrent UTIs (once a month, sometimes back to back/not clearing up). Scans have ruled out valve problems and any other scary concerns.

So, my questions are:

1. Why is her iron low when she has been taking a multivitamin with iron daily for 2 years? She isn't eating as much iron-rich food as I would like her to, but would that drop her iron to 5 even with the multi?

2. Is there a connection between iron and blood sugar?

3. I'm aware of the celiac-diabetes link, but is 7.2 a number to be concerned about?

4. Any thoughts on the UTI situation?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

My daughter has been gluten free for almost 2 years. We recently had a diabetes test and her sugar level was a little elevated so they completed a a1c test which came back normal. Did they have him fast before the test? Sometimes when they do the test randomly, it can cause the levels to be a little elevated based on the foods they recently ate.