Know More!
Find out all sorts of useful information about diabetes and related
issues here.
Carbohydrate Corner:
This addition of Carbohydrate corner we are looking at coeliac disease.
About ten per cent of people who have type 1 diabetes also have coeliac
disease. You have noticed on camp or day activities that some campers
have variations of the same meal or use different food to treat their
hypos.
So what is coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is an auto-immune condition like type 1 diabetes where
the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged after eating even
small amounts of gluten. The damaged lining of the intestine makes
it very hard for the body to absorb the nutrients from food and can
result in weight loss, poor growth, lack of energy, diarrhoea and
a swollen belly.
What on earth is gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in barley, oats, rye, triticale and wheat
How do you get coeliac disease?
Just like diabetes, coeliac disease is caused by both genetic and
environmental factors. Coeliac disease can run in families, with about
1 in 10 close family relatives of someone with coeliac disease also
having the condition.
How are you diagnosed?
If you have lost weight and have symptoms of coeliac disease, such
as feeling tired, diarrhoea, stomach ache and generally not feeling
so well, you should see your doctor and ask for a blood test to screen
for coeliac disease. If the test comes back positive a small bowel
biopsy test will usually be recommended. This aims to confirm the
diagnoses of coeliac disease.
How do you live with Coeliac Disease?
Just like living with type 1 diabetes, coeliac disease means you need
to be a little more organised than the average Joe when choosing your
food. Treatment involves avoiding foods that contain gluten. There
are many foods which obviously contain gluten, and there are many
others where gluten is a hidden ingredient. Remember to always read
labels, ingredient list and the amount of carbohydrates on food packaging.
Check out the gluten free Gingerbread Men
recipe on our Fun Stuff page!
For more information contact your dietitian and/or your family doctor
or go to www.coeliac.org.au.
You may also wanna check out the website especially made for kids
and teens with diabetes: www.diabeteskidsandteens.com.au
