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Hello, my name is Katie and I know exactly what you're going through. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 15 years ago (I'm 22) and diagnosed with Celiac's almost 3 years ago. I also don't enjoy telling new coworkers or friends because they're always criticizing what I eat. Even in the case of the diabetes, sometimes I'll eat a "sweet" cereal and they threaten to call my mother...as if she doesn't already know what I'm doing (I still live at home and she's a certified diabetes educator so it's like having the police here!). Just a question for you, though. Every once and awhile when I eat gluten free products, especially pasta, it makes me sick to my stomach and makes me spend the rest of the night in the bathroom. Does that ever happen to you or have you heard of it happening to anyone else? I'd love to chat because as far as I know, there's no one else around where I live that have both chronic problems. Thanks for the blog, it was nice hearing someone else voicing the concerns and comments I have! Take care and happy holidays!
Katie Yochim from Erie, Pennsylvania
Hey Katie!
What you're describing is by fat one of the most common reactions people with Celiac disease have. Everyone's sensitivity is a little different though. I know some people who can't even use the same toaster that's had real bread in it without getting sick. I even heard one woman saying that if she's in the room while someone's baking bread, it can get to her. So, yeah, I think it's your body telling you that it doesn't want that gluten in there! And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I haven't been known to cheat and eat gluten, but I have a relatively low sensitivity and don't suffer very much "outward" consequences as a result of it!!!!
Email me any time if you'd like to talk about it further!!!
Ginger
Ohhh! I'm so sorry I misread that!
It might be possible that you're also intolerant to some of the other ingrediants, some other grains? I personally don't usually eat very many of the gluten-free products (I just stick the basic naturally gluten-free stuff).
I actually HAVEN'T heard of that from other celiac folks!
Perhaps worth posting on a new sharepost to catch the attention of other celiac diabetics...definitely worth talking to a nutritionist about!
I'm currently researching the theory that celiac disease is caused by consumption of refined carbohyrdrates in those with a predisposition to auto immune disease. The reason that celiac and diabetes often go hand in hand may be that they are caused by the same thing, sugar (and carbs that act like sugar in the body).
It concerns me that so many celiacs consume even more refined carbs after their diagnosis, white rice, rice flour, maize, tapioca starch, potato starch, corn starch are all horribly disrupting to the blood sugar, acidify the blood causing inflammation and allowing adverse bacteria to proliferate in the gut.
It's common for people to be diagnosed with celiac and also diabetes (Type 1 or 2), but should we think of them as one condition? I don't have diabetes and neither does my son, but we are both celiacs and get hypoglycaemia if we don't eat often and low GI.
I don't have any answers as yet, only questions that I would love to have feedback on if anyone is interested.
I also don't want to be another person telling you what to eat. But please don't eat anymore wheat based cake, don't eat chips and starches and don't consume any refined sugar!
Your body will become less and less able to cope with your dietary slips as you get older and it's better to give it the best chance you can from as early an age as possible. There are many people out there who weren't diagnosed as young as you and now have many other auto-immune diseases due to the constant inflammation from eating something they didn't realise was making them sick.
You look fabulous - stay that way.
Naomi x
http://milkforthemorningcake.blogspot.com
Hi Naomi!
Thanks for the post. Your theory is interesting, except Type 1 diabetes is not caused by anything to do with a consumption of carbohydrates. Type 2 is lightly related to this of course, but overall, there's a lot more going on than simply carb intake in both versions of the disease. Type-1 can't be "caused" or "induced" and it has been stated that about 10 percent of those with Type 1 have celiac, but I think so far the connection is unclear!
And thank you for the wisdom about wheat-based cakes, I've been doing well gluten-free for a while now and actually my pursuits in bodybuilding support both a gluten-free and low-sugar diet! I appreciate your support!
Ginger
Yep I have the same combo. I would love to hear what you do to balance it.
Hey Lou!
How do I balance celiac and Type 1?
For the most part, actually, I don't eat a lot of carbohydrates, so avoiding gluten has been easy because I don't seek out gluten-free substitutes either. When I do want some carbs, there's an incredible local health-food store in my town in Burlington, VT that sells GF muffins and pies and even chocolate torte that tastes like pure heaven.
I find the less carbs I eat, the better I feel, the better my insulin sensitivity and the more stable my blood sugars are with much less effort on my part. I've written further about this on my regular HealthCentral site: www.diabeteens.com
What's the hardest part about the combo of Celiac and Type 1 for you?
-Ginger
Sorry I have the type 2. Until this week I have not been worried about the diabetic side..they said I was borderline and I just tried to balance a protein with the carbs. However that apprarently was not a good idea. Just got testing supplies and my reading is sky high...most likely because I ate way too much gf breads etc. Will be seeing my doctor next week and will hopefully get straightened out. I expect I will need to make major changes. What do you suggest since I have been carb centered? Is there a place to find menu suggestions for the combo? I have been confused for a while unfortunately.
Thanks for your response.
Hey Lou,
The absolute two things I would recommend if you're having trouble balancing your blood sugars (as a Type 1 OR Type 2) is exericse and reducing the carbohydrates you eat.
If you check out HealthCentral's www.diabeteens.com and look through many of my shareposts, I've written several articles about the benefits and how-to's of incorporating exercise and eating a lower carb diet. When you reduce your carbs, you reduce your insulin needs and you reduce the potential to spike your blood sugar!
Gluten-free products are definitely high-carb despite their lacking gluten. A GF piece of bread is often twice the amount of carbs than a regular slice of white bread!
Check out the blogs on the other site, as well as some David Mendosa has written, too, about low-carbs, and definitely get back to me with any questions!
Hi Lou, if you're still having problems with your reading being sky high after eating GF food and bread. Try eating more gluten free products made from brown rice. A lot of gluten free products are made from white rice. The minute white rice hits your stomach it instantly begins to breakdown and rapidly turn to sugar. Your body react to white rice the same exact way it reacts to a candy bar. Brown rice is much better for you it digest a lot more slowly, and it doesn't instantly turn to sugar. White rice is garbage... Look at all gluten free food and if its made from white rice please put it back...
haha! i like ur attitude! im also a "silent celiac". nobody knows but my family! should i tell my friends? and i do eat an occasional slice of pizza. i don't know if it'll hurt me or not...anyways thanks hun u helped me a lot!
Hey Linds!
Thanks for the feedback :)
An occassional slice of pizza won't do too much harm in the long run...but I guess it depends on what occassional means to you! We can sometimes have a selective memory when it comes to just how often we had a little gluten here or there :)
In the end, it's really repeated consumption that starts to really harm the wall of the small intestine.
Either way, glad the article was helpful :) I had a pretty darn good gluten-free cupcake the other day myself!
Ginger
Im also Gluten Intolerant, and a vegetarian. I can completely understand where you're coming from. I get so tired of people telling me that all I eat is lettece or rabbit food. Their is a lot more option to eat then just a head of lettece. I also get extremely tired of people asking me "what can I eat". Another famous question is why are you a vegetarian? and you cant eat anything. Its not that i cant eat meat, but I choose not to eat meat. Only very few people know about my gluten intolerance, because I dont want the additional questions.
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Just ran into your blog - sorry that you too have to have these rants, but a relief to hear someone else expressing the same frustration!