Diabetes and Associated Autoimmune Diseases

Celiac disease is an intolerance to wheat or gluten products. In celiac disease, cells of your small intestine are attacked by killer cells, resulting in a decreased ability to absorb foods with gluten or wheat. Celiac disease is often without symptoms, but sometimes healthcare providers are alerted to the disease by a patient's failure to grow in height or weight, or issues with digestion or menstruation in women. Physicians perform bloodtests called anti-serum tissue transglutaminase levels or anti-endomysial antibodies to detect the possibility of celiac disease. Definitive diagnosis is made by intestinal biopsy and treatment is with a "gluten-free" diet.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a disease that can attack the small or large joints of your body. Symptoms include pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or several joints. Rheumatologists use various medications to alleviate symptoms. Once again, lab tests including antibody determinations help to diagnosis this autoimmune disease.

Lastly, and most rarely, Addison's disease may occur. The adrenal glands are attacked, which results in the inability to make corticosteroid hormones that work to help you fight infections and manage stress. (John F. Kennedy was afflicted with Addison's disease and was treated with steroid medication before and during his presidency. Many believe that Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice and Emma, suffered from Addison's Disease as well.) Anti-adrenal antibodies are measured along with other hormones to help diagnose this rare condition.

Your healthcare team will usually perform routine laboratory work to check for the possibility of several of the more common autoimmune diseases associated with diabetes, such as autoimmune thyroiditis and celiac disease. Physicians rarely test for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or Addison's disease unless they are concerned that you may be exhibiting the appropriate symptoms. At your next appointment, if you see the following tests written on your laboratory slip, TSH, antithyroid antibodies, free T4, serum tissue transglutaminase, anti-endomysial antibodies, etc., you will know exactly why.

If you have any questions in regard to the autoimmune diseases associated with diabetes, please comment below. I am happy to give more details.