Celiac Disease and Diabetes

Managing one health problem can be difficult, particularly when it involves sticking rigidly to a restricted diet.

Having Celiac Disease and Diabetes is unfortunate but not impossible. There are strategies to combine both diets with the minimum of fuss. Living with multiple health problems can complicate things. As a diabetic, balancing the levels of carbohydrates, (starches and sugars) with the level of insulin requires thought and discipline. You should always consult your doctor and dietician for specific advice.

People with Type 1 Diabetes are at greater risk of developing Celiac Disease. It follows that they will need to manage a diet which controls both conditions. The diets do sit perfectly well together, but it needs careful planning. In principle, the same rules apply to your diet, whatever the problem.

As a Diabetic, you need to eat a well-balanced diet. The one area of difficulty is managing your carbohydrate intake with gluten-free versions.

You can find gluten-free carbohydrates in

• wild rice, 
• buckwheat, 
• maize, 
• millet, 
• sago, 
• tapioca, 
• corn flour, 
• soya, 
• polenta, 
• flax, 
• sorghum, 
• linseed, 
• whole wheat flour, 
• carrageenan, 
• channa (chickpea flour), 
• quinoa, 
• arrowroot, 
• wheat starch, 
• corn 
• pasta and 
• pure rice noodles. 

Here are 5 rules to ensure you get the most out of your life:

1. Become well informed about both conditions. 
2. Be clear what you can and cannot eat, what alternatives there are and where you can get them. 
3. Plan ahead - always take a supply of suitable gluten-free carbohydrates and insulin with you. (Planning ahead includes involving school, friends and other organizations of your needs). 
4. Take control of your life, you are a person who happens to have celiac disease and diabetes.
5. You are not defined by these conditions. Confidence grows out of knowing what you can and cannot eat. 

Instead of tackling the conditions as two sets of restrictions, combine the needs of both. Gluten-free pasta is available, as are gluten-free versions of bread.

Live life to the full. 

Try new things, push out the boundaries and the sky is the limit!