According to a new study released this November in Diabetes Care children who are diagnosed with Celiac Disease have more than double the risk of developing Type I diabetes by the age of 20.
This study out of Sweden is the first to look at children who have a primary diagnosis of Celiac disease and provide followup looking at diabetes risk. Previous studies had shown that children with Type I diabetes are more likely to have Celiac Disease, but this study looks at which may have come first.
More than 9000 children diagnosed with Celiac disease before the age of 20 were included in the study. Follow-up looked for secondary diagnoses of Type I diabetes also before the age of 20. Each celiac disease participant was matched to 5 controls who had not been diagnosed with either condition.
The risk of diabetes more than doubled, with the odds ratio jumping to 2.4.
Celiac disease results from an allergic reaction to gluten, a protein found in several grains including wheat. The immune reaction that occurs in the GI tract damages the lining of the intestines and results in bloody diarrhea, cramping, gas and bloating, weight loss and anemia.
Type I diabetes is an auto-immune condition which results in destruction of the cells in the pancreas responsible for making insulin. The main symptoms of Type I diabetes are increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, and fatigue.
The researchers believe that perhaps a cross reaction occurs in the immune system from the gluten allergy that predisposes a child to autoimmune destruction of the pancreas. They also suggest that genetics could play a role.
In conclusion they suggest that every child be screened for diabetes upon diagnosis of Celiac disease and vice versa because the two conditions could exist simultaneously, though only one be symptomatic.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on November 10, 2006 02:31 PM
