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Coeliac disease, diabetes and asthma
I am a 21-year-old student and have recently been diagnosed as having Coeliac disease. I also have insulin-dependent diabetes with complications and asthma. I feel all these conditions are in some way linked and while I understand why I have to take the medication, there must be some regimen of foods or supplements that would support my health. What would you suggest?
The fact that you have only recently been diagnosed as having Coeliac disease suggests there was some adverse development in your health that propelled you back to the doctor. The textbooks describe Coeliac disease as being an intolerance to gluten, but according to many nutritional therapists, clinical evidence suggests you are likely to be intolerant to all grains, which includes rice, buckweat, and millet.
There is no doubt that your gut lining is damaged. Nutritionists can arrange a test that can confirm a condition that is known as Leaky Gut and this may be at the root of your asthma. Also, if you are taking any steroid medication, this will exacerbate the problem because these drugs both weaken the gut and suppress any healing of the intestinal lining.
Because you have diabetes, you need to eat foods which have a low Glycaemic Index. This is a measure of how foods affect your blood glucose levels. You should confine your diet to foods below 50, which include fruit and buckwheat noodles. Unfortunately, because of your Coeliac disease, you cannot eat many of these foods, which include porridge and rice. You may be able to tolerate lentils, haricot beans, and chickpeas - but you should avoid rice cakes, raisins, watermelon and cereals.
You can take supplements such as vitamin A, zinc, and glutamine, and herbs such as slippery elm to support your system - but because your problems are inextricably linked, you need professional help. Also, make sure your doctor knows what you are doing.
I also recommend you read Breaking The Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschall published by Kirkton Press, Canada. Mail order from the Nutricentre on 0800-587 2290. To find alternative foods, contact Lifestyle Healthcare Limited - they have 120 gluten-free products, including fresh bread, and they recently took over the Allergycare range (01491-578016). Contact The Coeliac Society on 01494-437278.