Are Type 1 Diabetics Allergic to Gluten and Cow’s Milk?

I have food sensitivities to gluten and dairy. And I’m not the only diabetic that does. It turns out that many type 1 diabetics are sensitive or allergic to cow’s milk and gluten. A fascinating fact is that if you have one autoimmune disease, you’re more susceptible to developing another one.

Difference Between Food Allergies and Food Sensitivities

A food allergy affects the immune system and can be life-threatening, such as a peanut or shellfish allergy. A food allergy may produce hives, itchiness, and anaphylaxis, which can cause shock and difficulty breathing. By contrast, food sensitivities usually only affect the digestive system and cause less serious symptoms such as gas, cramps, bloating, and diarrhea.

Difference Between Gluten Sensitivity/Intolerance and Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which gluten causes the immune system to attack the small intestines. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Oats are naturally gluten-free but may come in contact with gluten during harvesting. By contrast, non-celiac gluten sensitivity may cause stomach issues.

Statistics for Diabetes and Food Allergies

As of 2021, the countries that consumed the most milk were also the countries with the highest incidences of type 1 diabetes, suggesting there is a correlation. Please see the picture below.

Here are some other staggering statistics and studies on food allergies and type 1 diabetes:

• Although celiac disease occurs in 1% of the general population, estimates are that it occurs in 6% of type 1 diabetics (https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/related-conditions/diabetes-and-celiac-disease/).
• Milk allergy affects over half of 1-year-olds with food allergies, accounts for 40 percent of food allergies for kids aged 1 to 2, and is the most common food allergy for children under 5 years old (https://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/move-over-peanuts-milk-allergy-more-common-kids-study-says-n937276).

• Studies suggest that 4 to 9 percent of children with type 1 diabetes have celiac disease. In addition, a study from Italy shows that cow’s milk may be a trigger for type 1 diabetes (https://www.crosbychiropractic.com/diabetes-and-food-allergies/).
• Dr. Fraser Scott from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute tested 42 type 1 diabetics and found that nearly half had an abnormal immune response to wheat proteins. He stated, “our research suggests that people with certain genes may be more likely to develop an over-reaction to wheat and possibly other foods in the gut and this may tip the balance with the immune system and make the body more likely to develop other immune problems, such as type 1 diabetes.” (Type 1 Diabetes Linked To Immune Response To Wheat — ScienceDaily)
• Genetic tests on nearly 20,000 subjects revealed that people with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease shared seven unusual genetic regions that were not seen in healthy volunteers. “What we need to look at now is if there is a dietary trigger for type 1 diabetes,” said David van Heel, a geneticist at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, who co-authored the study in the New England Journal of Medicine (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/dec/11/diabetes-food-health).
• Babies fed formula without cow’s milk were about 50% less likely to develop proteins associated with type 1 diabetes. The researchers hypothesize that cow’s milk may cause diabetes in genetically at-risk kids. They recommend breastfeeding for as long as possible or avoiding cow’s milk formula for the first 6 to 8 months (https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20010723/drink-milk-get-diabetes).

Suggestions from Experts

The International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) guidelines recommend screening type 1 diabetics for celiac disease at the time of diagnosis and again at ages 2 and 5. They also recommend additional screening if there is a first-degree relative with celiac or if the person is symptomatic (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pedi.12740).

Moreover, a study suggests breastfeeding and late introduction of gluten, fruit, and cow’s milk may reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes while consuming milk during childhood may increase it (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(21)00426-6/fulltext).

My Experiences

A chiropractor suspected I had food sensitivities when she examined me and said I was inflamed all over. I had also suspected this since dairy has given me problems since childhood and gluten gives me digestive issues.

When I tested sensitive to dairy and gluten, I didn’t know what foods I could eat. As a result, I started a blog, https://liveglutenanddairyfree.com/review-of-gluten-dairy-free-alternative-milk, and researched brands that are both gluten and dairy free. Contrary to popular belief, there are a lot of gluten and dairy-free food options.

Of course, many foods found in nature are naturally gluten and dairy free such as fruits, vegetables, and grains like rice. Also, the Paleo diet doesn’t include dairy or gluten and is low carb, which is an added benefit for diabetics (https://liveglutenanddairyfree.com/paleo-naturally-gluten-and-dairy-free/).

It’s important to address food allergies/sensitivities because not only do they cause physical issues, but they can also cause insulin resistance and inflammation.

Tests and Elimination Diet

How do you test for food sensitivities or allergies? There are two methods. You can either take an allergy test or perform an elimination diet. An elimination diet removes the suspected allergen for a few weeks. Then you reintroduce the food back into your diet to see if the symptoms return.

Conclusion

Children consuming milk and gluten does not mean they will develop type 1 diabetes. However, there is research showing some milk allergies may contribute to type 1 diabetes. And many type 1 diabetics have celiac disease, which is another autoimmune disease. It’s important to be aware that some children may have a genetic predisposition to these food allergies, which may cause type 1 diabetes.

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