If you have Celiac Disease, it’s important to recognize Celiac’s relationship to risk for other diseases. It’s especially tempting at this time of year to ignore the signs of distress your body sends you when you eat bread stuffing, gravy on your turkey, flaky pie crust, gingerbread cookies, and Christmas cookies – after all, it’s the holidays! Before you grab another roll in spite of your physician’s advice to follow a gluten-free diet, it’s good to be informed about the other health effects this could have.
Here is a list of health conditions related to Celiac Disease:
Cancers
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Small Bowel Cancer are serious complications of Celiac Disease. The good news is that three to five years of adherence to a gluten-free diet reduces the risk of these cancers to the same risk found in the general population. The risk will remain the same as it is for the general population so long as the gluten-free diet continues.
In untreated Celiac Disease patients, Esophageal Cancer occurs at a rate as much as 8 times higher than in the general population. A gluten-free diet reduces this risk.
Those with Celiac Disease have a threefold higher risk of Papillary Thyroid Cancer. This is the most common type of thyroid cancer and is highly treatable.
Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that worsens over time. Having Celiac Disease increases your risk of Chronic Pancreatitis threefold.
Scleroderma
Celiac Disease is a known trigger for Scleroderma – an autoimmune condition that causes a hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissue. It is chronic and without cure.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the third leading cause of death in the US. A large Swedish study from 1987 – 2008 found that those with both diagnosed and undiagnosed Celiac Disease had a moderately increased risk of COPD.
Osteoporosis
Untreated Celiac Disease can lead to development of osteoporosis also known as brittle bones.
Infertility
Untreated Celiac Disease may be an underlying cause of unexplained infertility.
Type 1 Diabetes
The incidence of Celiac Disease in patients with Type 1 Diabetes is 4 – 6% (possibly as high as 10% according to the Diabetes Council). Untreated Celiac Disease with resulting malabsorption can cause hypoglycemia in these patients. If you have Type 1 Diabetes and Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy, it will be easier to manage blood sugar levels when you adhere to a gluten-free diet.
In addition to these diseases, any condition that is exacerbated by inflammation can be affected because Celiac Disease is often associated with chronic inflammation. The inflammation from untreated Celiac Disease frequently causes joint pain.
With all the tempting treats of the holidays at hand, you may struggle to make the decision to remain gluten-free. While you are always free to choose that flaky pie crust, it’s only prudent to do so with the knowledge that if you have Celiac Disease, doing so can have a detrimental effect on your health. And now you know!
https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/balancing-diabetes-and-celiac-disease/
http://spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/15/3/197