Children with both type 1 diabetes and celiac disease improved their glycemic control when they were put on a gluten-free diet. Such a diet, which essentially omits all wheat products, is usually prescribed for people with celiac disease.

In those children with both disorders, HbA1c improved from 8.9% to 8.3% after 12 months on the gluten-free diet. Also, the deterioration in glycemic control that normally occurs during puberty did not materialize in these children. In comparison, children matched for age, sex and duration of diabetes but without celiac disease showed an increase in HbA1c to 10% during those years.

Related information Children with type 1 diabetes

Source:  Amin R, Murphy N, Edge J, et al. A longitudinal study of the effects of a gluten-free diet on glycemic control and weight gain in subjects with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Diabetes Care, June 2002;25:1117-1122. (Abs.)