Diabetes and coeliac disease? Help!!!

[RachelT]

Hi all,

I'm struggling with blood sugar levels anyway, i've an appointment next month with diabetes specialist nurse, hopefully to start insulin as my blood sugars aren't coming down any other way.
Anyway,prior to this my GP sent me for a barrage of blood tests for everything, mostly to dissuade me from asking silly questions, i think.
Results came back, my HbA1c is nowhere near as bad as i feel it should be, i'm not anaemic but i have been prescribed iron tablets and an added bonus, i have the markers for coeliac disease.
I don't have severe or even that many symptoms, I put tiredness down to high blood sugar and stomach upsets down to anti-diabetes meds.
Preliminary research suggests that coeliac disease is often linked to type 1 diabetes, but not type 2. I've been referred to a dietitian (second time this year!😛). In the meantime....I've cut out unnecessary sugar, cut down on fats and tried to cut down on carbs, now I'm supposed to avoid wheat and gluten? I thought wheat was good for me! I cut down on chocolate, now i'm supposed to give up bread and weetabix??? Gahhhhhhhh!!!! Help!!!

 

[Amberzak]

Hi.

You have my sympathies. I was diagnosed with coeliacs disease last summer, and I actually find that harder to deal with than diabetes most of the time.

The genius loaf is the best bread for me, but I know many people who prefer others. So try many different gluten free bread. (My favourite is Asda's own but there isn't an asda near me).

Gluten free is a whole lot better than it used to be. It's obviously not as good as normal food, and far more expensive. But it is something you get used to.

The hardest thing for me is that people just don't get the whole gluten free thing and cross contamination and all that. You will need your own toaster if people in your house are going to continue to eat normal bread. Otherwise the cross contamination makes you ill. I feel it most if ive been 'glutened' than I used to when I ate gluten all the time prior to diagnosis.

Oh, and if you are put on insulin and your sugars go low, the diabetes comes first. I've eaten a Mars bar, even though it contains barley, when my sugars drop because it's the only thing available.

Best of luck. And you are not alone 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

If you haven't had a biopsy then do not restrict gluten in your diet. Contact your GP and ask what next for the coeliac markers.

 

[WheelyRachel]

Hello all , I need some help controlling my blood sugars on a coeliac diet.
I was diagnosed coeliac years before the diabetes. So I'm used the the restricted diet. But when I eat my gf stuff like breads and pasta my bs becomes really erratic.
And if I cut it all out I then get malnutrition.
I've also have other immune disorders , ulcerative colitis, crones , lupus , rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.
So my diet is important to prevent flare ups.
My most resent Hba1 was 124 and that's more than double what it should be.
I'm at my wits end.
I hope someone can help as it seems my GP and DSN have run out of ideas

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hello @WheelyRachel you don't mention what diabetes treatment you are on. If not on insulin then that's your best bet I would have thought, then you can learn to carb count and adjust your insulin to your own needs/diet.
You can survive very well without bread and pasta being gluten free does not mean you have to have a restricted diet 🙂

 

[Martin Canty]

And if I cut it all out I then get malnutrition.

Hi Rachel, I have cut out pretty much all products with gluten from my diet & am thriving.... Instead of the starchy foods I replace them with nice green "leafy" vegetables which provides a great nutritional basis as well as keeping my BG under control.
As for the changes in how I eat, it's now second nature to do something like a curry on a bed of spinach rather than rice or spaghetti sauce on a pasta alternative (just discovered Edamame "Spaghetti"), just requires you to be a little inventive & innovative.

 

[WheelyRachel]

Hello @WheelyRachel you don't mention what diabetes treatment you are on. If not on insulin then that's your best bet I would have thought, then you can learn to carb count and adjust your insulin to your own needs/diet.
You can survive very well without bread and pasta being gluten free does not mean you have to have a restricted diet 🙂

I'm currently on metformin 800mg twice daily and insulin humulin at 45 ml twice daily.

 

[WheelyRachel]

Hi Rachel, I have cut out pretty much all products with gluten from my diet & am thriving.... Instead of the starchy foods I replace them with nice green "leafy" vegetables which provides a great nutritional basis as well as keeping my BG under control.
As for the changes in how I eat, it's now second nature to do something like a curry on a bed of spinach rather than rice or spaghetti sauce on a pasta alternative (just discovered Edamame "Spaghetti"), just requires you to be a little inventive & innovative.

Only trouble with adding / replacing Gf carbs with more veg and fruit is with all the digestive conditions I would end up stuck on the loo. You see I can't win.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I'm currently on metformin 800mg twice daily and insulin humulin at 45 ml twice daily.

Perhaps have a discussion with your medical team regarding changing over to MDI this will allow you to bolus for food at the correct amount for your needs. Carb counting is quite simple to do once you get used to working it all out.
Obviously the type and amount ( 45 X 2 units) a day isn't in your best interests this is not the right treatment for you as is born out by your A1c.

 

[WheelyRachel]

Perhaps have a discussion with your medical team regarding changing over to MDI this will allow you to bolus for food at the correct amount for your needs. Carb counting is quite simple to do once you get used to working it all out.
Obviously the type and amount ( 45 X 2 units) a day isn't in your best interests this is not the right treatment for you as is born out by your A1c.

My dr and diabetic specialist nurse are both currently stumped that's why I've come on here.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

My dr and diabetic specialist nurse are both currently stumped that's why I've come on here.

Then please ask that you are referred to a hospital consultant and DSN. GP practice nurses take at most half a day to get a qualification in so called diabetes care.

So plan of action ask nicely then demand if it falls on deaf ears that you are see by a consultant and trained DSN.

 

[Maz2]

I think a referral to a specialist would be the best thing here Rachel so that they can advise you how to eat. my hubby's aunt is coeliac but not diabetic and, whenever we go for a meal, we have to ask them to point out which dishes are gluten free. It is a nightmare for her. One of the restaurants we went to used to do a "gluten free" menu but don't now so it is back to asking. My hubby must think he is well blessed with her with the coeliac and me scrutinising the carbs!!

There is more gluten free produce around now - my local Tesco has a gluten free section and the health shops do it too. It is expensive though.

I personally think being coeliac is a worse nightmare than diabetes so both must be awful for you.

You could try courgetti spaghetti and cauliflower rice. I have tried both since being diagnosed pre-diabetic and have developed a taste for them. They are both in Michael Moseley's books although his books are specifically related to diabetes and not coeliac.

I am probably making a stupid statement here but is coconut flour or almond flour any good or is that gluten too?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I am probably making a stupid statement here but is coconut flour or almond flour any good or is that gluten too?

Both gluten free, coconut flour is an acquired taste to put things mildly.

 

[Radders]

Only trouble with adding / replacing Gf carbs with more veg and fruit is with all the digestive conditions I would end up stuck on the loo. You see I can't win.

It sounds though you might benefit from nutritional therapy which is tailored to your conditions. It might be worth a Google and then going armed with info to your next appointment.

 

[Gerry Wood]

Hello all , I need some help controlling my blood sugars on a coeliac diet.
I was diagnosed coeliac years before the diabetes. So I'm used the the restricted diet. But when I eat my gf stuff like breads and pasta my bs becomes really erratic.
And if I cut it all out I then get malnutrition.
I've also have other immune disorders , ulcerative colitis, crones , lupus , rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.
So my diet is important to prevent flare ups.
My most resent Hba1 was 124 and that's more than double what it should be.
I'm at my wits end.
I hope someone can help as it seems my GP and DSN have run out of ideas

My sympathies to you. My hba1c 136 have T1 Coeliac. Anaemia. Underactive thyroid. Vitiligo. Duputrons contractur(lumps in the palms of my hands. AF/SVT heart probs. Maculopothy (going blind) neuropathy. Its all immune breakdown.
The Coeliac is just the same for me. Completely messes up the diabetes. Malabsorbtion of food. Almost giving up. New insulin next week am terrified. You are not on your own