Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Child Development: The Link Between Celiac Disease and Diabetes

11.20.2007 | 12:11:38 pm | Posted by mummums

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

A new study published by Danish researchers discovered a strong link between children with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Not unlike the classic case of the chicken and the egg, previous correlations between the 2 ailments were assumed to begin with Type 1 diabetes or IDDM (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus). This new study, however, explains that children with celiac disease actually have a 3 times higher risk of developing IDDM than other children.

About Type 1

Type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile onset diabetes because children are the largest population affected. Similar to celiac, IDDM is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system creates autoantibodies that attack the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas. This destruction of pancreatic cells is one of the primary reasons IDDM is diagnosed so early in life; the body cannot produce enough insulin. Without insulin, the body cannot use any of the food we eat as energy. IDDM can be managed and controlled by use of insulin injections.

The Celiac Connection

The connection between diabetes and celiac disease in children may be due to a few possible factors, yet no studies have been done to find an exact cause. Some correlating factors include:

Genetic predisposition
Autoantibodies expressed after early exposure to gluten
Weakened immune system brought on by the onset of the initial disease

What to Look For

Since most children diagnosed with celiac often have their blood sugar tested, additional testing for diabetes may not be necessary. Instead, doctors advise parents of celiac children to be on the look out for any symptoms of diabetes which include:

Increase thirst
Frequent urination
Weight loss
Fatigue

Prevention

Although clear preventative measures have not yet been defined, maintaining a gluten free diet is always recommended for celiacs. In fact, a gluten free diet may help maintain stable blood sugar levels over the long term. Conversely, if your child has IDDM, and is experiencing symptoms of celiac, talk to your physician. As mentioned in previous posts, it is important to provide your baby with a gluten free diet for at least his first year of life.

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