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January 5, 2013

Eat a Gluten-Free Diet for Type 2 Diabetes & Celiac Disease. ~ Sarka-Jonae Miller

Gluten-free diets are more than just hype.

New research finds that almost one in four adolescents in the United States have diabetes or pre-diabetes, according to The New York Times.

These are not children with juvenile diabetes, but rather full-on type 2 diabetes. In addition, more than 25 million adults already have diabetes and 79 million may have pre-diabetes. There is a definite correlation between diet and diabetes symptoms, yet few people consider a diabetes diet.

Studies suggest that eating a gluten-free diet without dairy could be good for diabetes and celiac disease, a condition characterized by an allergy to gluten.

Diabetes and Celiac

The only treatment for celiac disease is following a gluten-free diet. Gluten is a protein found in most grains, including wheat, barely and rye.

Adopting a gluten-free diet relieves symptoms in people with celiac and those who are sensitive to gluten, yet a study published in Diabetologia journal reports that diabetics should consider a gluten-free diet, too.

The study observed people with type two diabetes on the Paleo diet versus the Mediterranean diet.

The Paleo diet calls for no grains, no dairy and no salt. It recommends fruits, vegetables, nuts, seafood and lean meats. The diet is based on how early man ate and discourages any processed foods. The Mediterranean diet also allows fruits, vegetables, seafood and lean meats. The main difference between the two is that the Mediterranean diet recommends unrefined grains, such as whole grain products and a small amount of dairy is also acceptable. 

The results of this study found that people on the Mediterranean diet had very little, if any, improvement in diabetes symptoms.

The group who followed the Paleo diet experienced a reverse in diabetes symptoms, showing a clear correlation between a gluten-free diet and diabetes.

 The Mediterranean group experienced a seven percent lower rise in glucose in response to carbohydrate intake whereas the Paleolithic group saw a 26 percent reduction. The group who ate the gluten-free Paleo diet had normal glucose levels at the conclusion of the study.

Diet and Diabetes

Only a decade ago the prevalence of type two diabetes among children aged 12 to 19 was low.

Now, it’s growing at an alarming rate. Also, experts are finding that diabetes progresses more quickly in children than adults, plus is more difficult to treat. Adopting a diabetes diet without grains or dairy could help many of the children and adults who are at risk for developing diabetes. It would also benefit people with celiac disease, many of whom have no idea that they have the condition.

Experts estimate that around 15 percent of people in the US have some form of gluten sensitivity. 

Perhaps the people who could most benefit from a gluten-free diet are people with type one diabetes. Experts estimate that around 10 percent of people with type one diabetes also have celiac disease. This does not account for how many diabetics may also have a mild to moderate gluten intolerance.

Diabetes Diet

Eliminating dairy as part of a diabetes diet is fairly easy, with the exception of whey, casein and a few other ingredients that do not sound like they are dairy-derived.  On the other hand, gluten-containing ingredients and products with hidden gluten are much harder to identify. Many salad dressings, broths, candies, condiments, sauces, soy products and mixes have gluten.

 Adopting a gluten-free diet comes with the price of time to learn all the possible gluten foods and alternatives. However, a gluten-free diet may be the best thing for someone with diabetes and celiac disease.

Sources for this article include:

Robb Wolf: What is the Paleo Diet

New York Times: Diabetes on Rise Among Teenagers

Gluten Free Network: Gluten Intolerance Symptoms – Is Gluten Making You Sick?

American Diabetes Association: What Foods Have Gluten?

American Diabetes Association: Gluten-Free Diets American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Statistics

Staffan Lindeberg: Diabetes Study

Published by permission from NaturalNews.

 

Sarka-Jonae Miller is a former personal trainer and massage therapist. She is also the author of the chick-lit novel, Between Boyfriends. Get more health and wellness tips on Sarka’s Natural Healing Tips Blog or on Facebook.

 

 

 

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Assistant Ed: Wendy Keslick

Ed: Bryonie Wise

 

Like elephant Health & Wellness on Facebook.

 

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