Diabetics with Gluten Intolerance: Three Tips for Avoiding Sugary Foods for New Gluten Intolerant Diabetics

According to the American Diabetes Association, type 1 diabetics are ten times as likely to have celiac disease source than the general population. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as a weakened immune system, but the bottom line is that people with both diabetes and celiac disease need to be especially careful with their diets, avoiding both sugar and gluten.

That is why I am sharing three tips for avoiding sugar-containing foods for new diabetics who have been living a gluten-free lifestyle:

Read nutrition labels

Nutrition labels will have information like how much sugar is in a food, and near the labels you can see a list of ingredients. People with diabetes cannot eat very much simple sugars since it sends their insulin levels out of sync, so stay away from foods with lots of sugar and high fructose corn syrup. This also applies to foods and drinks that do not always come with a label. That means no more glasses of orange juice at the local diner and no more rum and cokes at the local bar.

Use common sense and be self-aware

Just like how you know every single food that has gluten, also know every single food that diabetics are not supposed to eat. However, in addition to that, you will need to be much more aware of your consumption than you were when you were just insulin-resistant. This is because any food can cause your insulin level to fluctuate, and you could go into insulin shock if it fluctuates too much.

Go to a diabetes support website

Websites like Diabetes Resource Page can provide you with more detailed information on how to live a healthy life with diabetes, and you will be able to connect with other diabetics who also cannot eat gluten. Many of them may have developed the gluten resistance after developing diabetes, especially if they have weak immune systems. Other people are one of the best sources for tips on living a life with both insulin resistance and gluten resistance.

About the author: Murray Newlands is the CEO and Founder of Influence People, an online marketing and blogger relations firm. Influence People works with a variety of clients to help build their presence online, including clients dedicated to helping web developers monetize mobile apps, clients dedicated to helping people with diabetes, and clients helping webmasters make money off their blogs.

Could Milk Thistle help gluten intolerance?

Milk Thistle is a traditional herbal medicine used to aid indigestion, upset stomach and overindulgence. Find out how it can help you.

If you’re gluten intolerant, you may be familiar with symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Milk Thistle is a natural product that is gentle on the body and can help relieve these uncomfortable feelings.

Extracted from the fruits of the milk thistle herb, it is also a powerful antioxidant that is great for our general health and well-being. It has also been proven to relieve the symptoms associated with the overindulgence of food and drink.

Gluten intolerance and liver disease

It is widely thought gluten intolerance has adverse effects on the liver. While further research is being done on these effects, if you suffer the condition you may wish to take preventative action by adding a Milk Thistle supplement to your diet.

Milk Thistle helps protect the liver by repairing cells and, in some instances, helps the process of cell regeneration where cells may be worn out through wear and tear.

There’s more to Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle has another use too - it helps hangovers. Drinking too much alcohol puts toxins into our body and is particularly damaging to the liver. The traditional herbal medicine can help detoxify the liver, so taking one tablet twice a day could relieve the symptoms.

Expert advice

If you suffer gluten intolerance you will already have made changes to your diet to avoid or reduce your consumption of foods that contain gluten. Peter Whorwell, Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, has some further tips to help you avoid the uncomfortable side effects related to the condition and overindulgence:

• High fiber vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts can help ease constipation. However they can create more gas in the bowel too. If you are prone to wind, swap sprouts for carrots instead.


• Fizzy drinks and sweets can bring on abdominal discomfort because they often contain sorbitol, a sweetener that if taken in sufficient quantity, can cause bloating, wind and diarrhea. Swap sugary fruit juice and fizzy drinks for water and alternate alcoholic drinks with glasses of water too.


• Fat often exacerbates bowel problems and also has an effect on the speed at which the stomach empties. This may explain why you feel fuller after a high fat meal. Roast potatoes in olive oil rather than goose fat and swap cauliflower cheese for steamed vegetables. You can also swap full fat ice cream for crème fraiche.

I am gluten intolerant, now what do I do?

So, you just found out that you are gluten intolerant. Now what do you do? Where do you start? Well I have the answer for you.

1. See a Nutritionist or a Nature Path that understands what is to be on a gluten free diet.


2. Join a support group like Gluten Intolerance Group. Look up your state and city to find your local support group. You are not in this alone. I have met some great friends who are also gluten intolerant. (now I am involved in the group as a mentor and have helped put together a blog for my local support group).


3. Find a gluten free blog you really like for tips, recipes and resources, like my blog for instance. Check out my Food and Health Carnival on Thursdays.


4. Learn to read food labels. Make sure to look for the gluten free label on grocery products. Learn what what is in your food. Read my article called, Gluten Free Flours and Binding Agents.


5. Learn how to eat healthy and gluten free. Not only is it better for you to eat gluten free but to also eat healthy.


6. Join a gluten free cooking class or find an instructor. Many nature stores have cooking classes. Here is a couple of great resources for gluten free cooking classes. Gluten Free Cooking School and Gluten & Allergen Free Expo.


7. Find your local grocery stores that sell gluten free products. For example, Lingonberries Market, Whole Foods, New Season's, Trader Joe's, Fred Meyer Nutrition Center. Winco, Safeway and Walmart Superstores are now starting to carry gluten free products. There are websites that sell gluten free products. For example, Amazon and The Gluten Free Mall.


8. Find your local Restaurants that are gluten free friendly.


9. Get yourself a couple of Gluten-Free Books.


10. Search for gluten free coupons online and in the newspaper. I occasionally will post about gluten free coupons. Grocery Store Deals on WeUseCoupons


11. Here is a fact you should know, People with Celiac Disease can Declare their "Gluten Free Food" as a Tax Deduction.


12. Try different gluten free recipes and gluten free products and find out what you like the best. Most of all, have fun with it.

Dermatitis Herpetitformis

Dermatitis Herpetitformis is a chronic disease of the skin marked by watery, itchy blisters that may resemble pimples or blisters. The ingestion of gluten (from wheat, rye and barley) triggers an immune system response that deposits a substance, IgA (Immunoglobulin A), under the top layer of the skin. IgA is present in affected as well as unaffected skin. Dermatitis Herpetitformis is a hereditary autoimmune gluten intolerance disease linked with celiac disease. If you have Dermatitis Herpetitformis you will always have gluten intolerance. With Dermatitis Herpetitformis, the primary lesion is on the skin, whereas with celiac disease the lesions are in the small intestine. The degree of damage to the small intestine is often less severe or more patchy than those with celiac disease. Both diseases are permanent and the symptoms and damage will occur after eating gluten.

The symptoms of dermatitis herpetitformis are:

• Watery, itchy skin that resembles pimples or blisters
• Itching and burning sensation
• Scratching will irritate it more
• May appear on pressure points, such as, elbows, knees, buttocks, face and scalp, but can appear anywhere.
• Can effect men, women and children

The diagnosis of dermatitis herpetitformis is to have your dermatologist take a small biopsy of the unaffected skin. The presence of IgA deposits will confirm a diagnosis of Dermatitis Herpetitformis. Sometimes the dermatologist may also want you to do blood work for celiac disease and see a GI Doctor.

The treatment for dermatitis herpetitformis is to strictly follow a gluten free diet. It may take a two years or more on a gluten free diet for the IgA deposits under the skin to clear. Your doctor may prescribe medications for relief from the itching and burning, it requires close monitoring by your doctor (because of serious side effects). Medications should not be used during pregnancy. If you are using medications to relieve the itching make sure you are also following a gluten-free diet.

The questions you should ask your doctor are:

• Should I be taking medications for this disease?
• How long should I take this medicine?
• What are the side effects of the medicine?
• How often do I need to get my blood drawn?
• What else can trigger Dermatitis Herpetitformis?

The Prognosis is excellent if you stay on the gluten free diet. The severity and frequency of the itching and burning will decrease as you continue on with the gluten free diet. Iodine is essential and should not be removed from your diet without your doctor's supervision.

The related disorders with Dermatitis Herpetitformis and Celiac Disease are:

• Thyroid disease (most common)
• Addison's disease
• Autoimmune chronic active hepatitis
• Alopecia Areata
• Graves disease
• Insulin-Dependant Diabetes mellitus (type 1)
• Myasthenia gravis
• Scleroderma
• Sjogren's syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• there may be other diseases associated

Thyroid disease and diabetes are the two most commonly associated diseases. You may have other skin conditions as well.

What are the benefits of a gluten-free diet?

Someone asked me this question a few days ago.

What are the benefits of a gluten free diet?

 

First I think we should look at the symptoms of gluten sensitivity.

 

• Abdominal pain and distension


• Bloating


• Diarrhea


• Greasy, Foul smelling, floating stools


• Vomiting


• Acid reflux


• Constipation


• Gas and flatulence


• Nausea


• Weight loss or weight gain


• Loss of appetite


• Fatigue and weakness


• Headaches and migraines


• Depression, irritability and mood disorders


• Fuzzy brain or inability to concentrate


• Dental enamel deficiencies and irregularities


• Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)


• Respiratory problems


• Lactose intolerance


• Rosacea


• Hashimoto's disease


• Hair loss


• Bruising easily


• Muscle cramping and muscle weakness


• Swelling and inflammation


• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies


• Joint and bone pain


• Infertility


• Abnormal menstrual cycles


• Seizures


• Ataxia (bad balance)


• Canker sores


• Eczema and psoriasis


• Acne


• Early onset osteoporosis


• Night blindness


• Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar


• Nosebleeds


• Elevated liver function tests (AST, ALT)


• Lack of motivation


• Hashimoto's disease, Sjogren's syndrome, Lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune disorders


• Irritable bowel syndrome or spastic colon


• Inflammatory bowel disease


• Chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia


• Lupus (an autoimmune disease)


• Unexplained anemia


• Pyschological issues (hypochondria, depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, neurosis and mood disorders)


• Food allergies


• Parasites or other infection


• Gallbladder disease


• Thyroid disease


• Cystic fibrosis (respiratory disorder)


• Diverticulosis


• Diabetes


• Thyroid Disease


• Dermatitis Herpetiformis (skin rash related to celiac disease)


• Peripheral Neuropathy (tingling or numbness in arms and legs)


• and many more conditions

Symptoms in children

• Inability to concentrate


• Irritability


• ADD/ADHD or Autism and Down Syndrome


• Failure to thrive (infants and toddlers)


• Short stature or delayed growth


• Delayed onset of puberty


• Weak bones or bone pain


• Abdominal pain and distension


• Nosebleeds


• 
  

If these symptoms are not put under control like being on a gluten free diet, they can turn into more serious conditions. Like Heart Disease, Lung Disease, Addison's Disease, the list goes on and on.

 

Gluten Intolerance or Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder.

The best way to tell if you have gluten intolerance or celiac disease is to have your doctor test you for celiac disease (note: You need to keep eating your gluten filled diet, in order for the doctor to determine weather or not you have celiac disease).  Even if your celiac test shows up normal, you could still could have gluten intolerance.  And I would suggest having a food sensitivity test done by a nature path.

 

The cure: stay away from gluten and any other foods that you are sensitive to.

Many people have reported feeling so much better after staying off gluten. And many people have lost weight eating a gluten free diet.But there have been people who have gained weight,you just have to be careful not to eat too much of a good thing.

 

So what are the benefits from being on a gluten free diet?

Well for one, you feel so much better, you have more energy and your stomach doesn't hurt anymore. You don't feel swollen. You don't feel sluggish anymore, You actually feel like you can function again. And best of all you have improved digestion, which means you are absorbing the nutrients in your food again. And your health improves.

 

Here are some of my related posts:

What is gluten intolerance or celiac disease?

Food Intolerance

ADD, ADHD and Autism Resource

People with Celiac Disease can declare thier gluten-free food as a tax deduction

How to eat healthy and gluten free

How I learned that I am gluten intolerant

Gluten Intolerance Group

 

Here is a couple of great resources from Wikipedia.

Gluten-Free Diet

Celiac Disease

 

I hope this has helped to explain the benefits of a gluten-free diet.

Have a wonderful week.

Lisa

http://www.lisasglutenfree.com/

What is Gluten Intolerance or Celiac Disease?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, spelt and triticale.
They are prolamins (proteins) that cause damage to the digestive system.

Hairlike structures called villi are in the lining of the small intestine.
It helps to digest the nutrients in your food.

For people who have gluten intolerance or celiac disease,
gluten attacks the villi and makes it flat. Then you cannot absorb
the nutrients in your food. It is actually an autoimmune disorder.
You can also become intolerant to dairy and sugar.

The only way to reverse the process is to stay away from gluten
and the villi will grow back so that you can absorb the nutrients in
your food again.

Also, if you are also intolerant to dairy and sugar you need to stay away from them also.

Some people can tolerate some gluten after being off gluten for awhile,
but most of the time your symptoms will just come back again and
you will feel terrible again. So it is best to just stay on a gluten free diet.

Many people can have gluten intolerance or celiac disease and not know it.
It is always best to get tested to make sure.

This is also a great resource for Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease.
Gluten Free Diet Help

Please sign up to be on my e-mail list or sign up to be on my feed list.

How I learned that I am Gluten Intolerant

I have went to Nature Path the last year, for over a year for my acid reflux/hietal hernia. The ladies there are very caring and fun to be around. I loved it there. They have helped me out allot. I had gotten the Hietal Hernia Surgery in August 2009, it has helped allot. I still have all my Food Allergies though.

I always feel better as long as I follow the Dr's advise.

First she told be to go on an Anti-Inflammatory Diet. The book is called "The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book" Protect yourself and your family from Heart Disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Allergies and More. by Jessica K. Black, N.D. I got this book from the Nature Path, but you can get anywhere. My nature path has also put me on natural supplements. And she told me to use organic foods. I have lost lots of weight following this diet plan. It's mostly vegetable, some meats and some fruit. No junk food. No sugar or wheat. Dr. has me doing a castor= oil pack. You put castor oil on a special cotton cloth, (lay down on the couch or your bed), then you lay the cloth on your stomach then plastic bag, then a towel, lastly a heating pad. Do that for about an hour. It is really soothing. It is a form of detox.

Before I followed this diet, I was following "The Acid-Alkaline Diet" for Optimum Health Restore your health by creating balance in your diet.
This book talks about eating alkaline foods and drinking alkaline water and staying away form acidy foods. Both of these books are very similar food wise.

The other thing I have done is NAET treatments. Here is a link: NAET Treatment I have a book posted on "My Favorite Books" about NAET.
It helps to rid allergies and other sensitivities, like food. Read up on it. It has helped me allot and then come back to my website for more information.
http://www.lisasglutenfree.com/

I have also followed the advise of  a book called "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"A practical A-Z Reference to drug-free remedies using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and food supplements. By Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and James F. Balch, M.D.

These Books are located on my "I Recommend" page.
My nature path also did a food sensitivity test on me and discovered that I have several food sensitivities. Especially to: Dairy, Caffeine, Chocolate, Sugars, Wheat (and all Gluten's), Tomatoes, Potatoes and Corn.

I went to a Gluten Free Baking Class held at my Nature Path's office. The lady who was running the class gave us some very yummy treats that she had baked, they were Gluten Free and Sugar Free.

Here is a Great Gluten Free Book to start with, "The Gluten-Free Bible".

Here is a link to a webpage that talks about Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms.
Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms
Look at the symptoms to see if you might be Gluten Intolerant.

Please come back to my website for more information.
http://www.lisasglutenfree.com/  Thank-you

Gluten Intolerance Group

Check-out this awesome Gluten Free Support Group.

Just click on this link.
Gluten Intolerance Group

Click on your State to find your local support group.
It have lots of great resources on there website.

GIG Publications
GIG Free Publications

When your done checking it out then come back to my web page for more information.
http://www.lisasglutenfree.com/