
August 15, 2000
Other Illnesses
Question from St. Petersburg, Florida, USA:
I am a Certified Nurse Case Manager working in pediatric endocrinology and have about 150 little ones with type 1 diabetes, some with type 2. One of our little ones (three years old), diagnosed about a year ago with type 1, has now developed celiac disease. Is this secondary to his type 1 diabetes?
Answer:
Celiac syndrome is a disease which causes malabsorption of certain proteins such as wheat and common cereal grains. Treatment is dietary modification. About 5% of children with diabetes may also suffer to some degree from celiac syndrome. Autoimmune factors play a role in both celiac syndrome and diabetes in children although the entire process is still not completely understood.
MSB