Coeliac Disease and Diabetes

People with Type 1 diabetes have a greater risk of developing coeliac disease than the general population. In fact, some estimates put the proportion of people with Type 1 diabetes who also have coeliac disease at as many as 1 in 14.

Diabetes, or to give it its full name, diabetes mellitus, is a common condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to control it.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or IDDM) develops if the body is unable to produce the hormone insulin, which is produced in the pancreas.

The role of insulin is to regulate the level of glucose in the blood. This type of diabetes usually appears in people under the age of 40, often in childhood. It is treated by insulin injections and diet. There is a greater chance of developing coeliac disease with Type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM) develops when the body still produces some insulin, although not enough for its needs, or when the insulin does not work properly. In most cases, this is conected to being overweight 

People with this type of diabetes have no greater risk than the general population of developing coeliac disease.

In the UK, around 2.3 million people are known to have diabetes and it is estimated another 750,000 may have the condition without knowing it. Type 2 diabetes is the most common of the two main types and accounts for between 85-95% of all people suffering from diabetes. 

If you have any further questions about coeliac disease and diabetes why not ask our dietitian, Melissa Wilson?