Coeliac Disease is a condition where the lining of the small intestine is damaged or scarred due to a sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in many foods.

Being an auto-immune condition, it is often diagnosed in people who have Type 1 Diabetes. In general, an estimated 1% of of people are affected, in comparison to 10% of  the Type 1 community.

People with undiagnosed Coeliac Disease are unknowingly damaging their intestinal wall each time they consume food with gluten as an ingredient. It makes it very difficult to absorb nutrients from food, leading to deficiencies that are required for growth, wellbeing, and healing. An undiagnosed child can have issures with growth and development, and like all good auto-immune diseases, has several long term complications if not diagnosed and treated. Osteoporosis is usually on top of the ladder, along with infertility, miscarriage, tooth decay and increased risk of intestinal cancers.

The symptoms of Coeliac Disease are extreme and very uncomfortable, therefore making it relatively easy to diagnose in children.

Fortunately, any children who are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes are automatically screened for Coeliac Disease. Annual blood tests can also show any abnormalities that can alert your doctor to investigate further.

The most common symptoms include:

• fatigue, lack of energy and lethargy
• low iron levels
• unusual or excessive wind or burping
• feeling full after only a small amount of food
• bloating or stomach distention
• stomach cramps
• a noted change in stools, ie. diarrhoea that is frequent and with a foul smelling odour
• constipation
• weight loss
• poor weight gain or delayed growth
• delayed puberty

Some less common symptoms in adults include:

• easy bruising of the skin
• mouth ulcers
• infertility and miscarriages
• muscle spasms/cramps
• dental problems
• poor memory/concentration
• irritability
• join and bone aches and pains

If you have diabetes,  you may also hae unexplained high and low blood sugar levels, and find it difficult to have good control of your glucose levels.

If there are any symptoms listed that have suddenly set off alarm bells or light bulbs, mention them to your doctor. There is no need for you to suffer, and you can easily reduce your discomfort. Read on!

Coeliac Disease doesn’t go away. (If you already have Type 1 Diabetes, this part of the diagnosis won’t be so tough to accept.) However,when you remove gluten from your diet, the wall of the intestine heals, and nutrients can once again be absorbed, the uncomfortable symptoms will improve out of sight and you will generally feel much better.

But…

Type 1 Diabetes and Coeliac Disease creates a huge problem for young children, as they often can no longer eat their favourite foods; including foods that were beneficial for keeping blood sugar levels steady. Any food or drink products containing gluten must be eliminated from the diet to achieve relief and regain good health.

However…

In recent years, almost all supermarkets and certainly health food shops now stock a broad range of Gluten Free Products. There is no reason for your child to miss out on the occasional slice of cake or even daily toast or sandwiches. A diet rich in fruit, vegetables and grains will help balance out the often high fat and sugar content in Gluten Free Products.

So, who can help and set you on the right track?

JDRF Australia have lots of reading material about how to intergrate Coeliac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes,  as well some fabulous recipe books. My personal favourite is Great Food, Gluten Free, by Sheila Adsett. It is available from the JDRF website, or the Coeliac Society of Australia. Sheila has had years of experience in creating child friendly recipes; she has two beautiful, healthy daughters who both have Type 1 Diabetes and Coeliac Disease.

The incidence of Coeliac Disease has become so prevalent that many cafes and restaurants now have one or a  few Gluten free items on the menu. Many modern recipe books will have a section with several delicious, gluten free recipes.

A dietician will be a great help when you are first diagnosed. They can help work out what foods work best for you as an individual, and not as a statistic.

Type 1 Diabetes and Coeliac Disease is a double whammy, I admit, and sometimes it can be very frustrating having to find special ingredients, and phasing out those that have been life long favourites. If your child is very intuitive, they will soon let you know that biscuits made on cornflour taste different (but not unpleasant) than those made on wheat flour. However, they will soon notice that the cramping and sudden rushes to the toilet will have stopped, so eventually, things do fall into place. The most dramatic change that I have noticed since Lance’s diagnosis is that he no longer has irritable, moody periods during the day. He is always bright, happy and brimming over with energy.

For more information, support and membership, contact the Coeliac Society Of Australia.