What is coeliac disease?
- Coeliac disease is not a disease. It is an autoimmune disorder, like type 1 diabetes. It is caused by the immune system reacting to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
- Coeliac disease affects around 1 in 100 people in the UK. It is more common in people with type 1 diabetes, affecting around 2-10% of people with diabetes, probably due to the involvement of a similar gene.
- The only treatment for coeliac disease is a lifelong gluten-free diet.
What are the symptoms of coeliac disease?
Symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of coeliac disease can include the following:
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Faltering growth
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain, bloating and cramps
- Weight loss
- Anaemia
- Low mood
- Nerve problems such as numbness in hands or feet or problems with coordination or balance
How is coeliac disease diagnosed?
- Children and young people with type 1 diabetes are tested for coeliac disease. We do this every year as part of your annual review blood test.
- Blood is tested for the antibodies, tissue transglutaminase IgA (tTg) or endomysial antibodies (EMA). You should continue eating gluten in your diet at the time of testing to avoid having an inaccurate result.
- If your results are positive, a referral may be made to a gastroenterologist for further investigations.
- It is possible to have a negative antibody test but still have coeliac disease. Some individuals have negative antibody tests for coeliac disease at the time of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and become positive at a later stage.
- Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed before coeliac disease. In children and young people, a symptom of coeliac disease might include recurrent hypoglycaemia or unexplained high glucose levels, because the body is not able to metabolise carbohydrates properly.
- Young people with diabetes may be diagnosed unexpectedly and have no symptoms
What to do if coeliac disease is diagnosed?
- Once diagnosis is confirmed, you will need to start a gluten-free diet.
- A gluten-free diet will allow the gut to heal and improve the absorption of nutrients, including carbohydrates. This is likely to affect glucose levels and may require changes to the amounts of insulin given.
- Your diabetes dietitian will help you to manage the gluten-free diet and diabetes.
- We recommend that you join Coeliac UK, a support group for people with coeliac disease.
Diabetes team Contact Details
Emergency mobile: 07940 476811
Email: uclh.
Further information and fact sheets can be found on our Children and Young People’s Diabetes web page.