Abstract
BACKGROUND: Due to autoimmune mechanisms, celiac disease (CD) may affect patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) more than the general population. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the effect of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on HbA1c levels in patients with both type 1 diabetes and CD. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, biochemical and clinical information was gathered from 174 children with T1DM from January 2013 to January 2019. RESULTS: We assessed 174 children with T1DM (93 girls and 81 boys). Celiac disease was diagnosed in 18 out of 174 cases (10.34%). Height and weight percentiles showed significant differences between children with CD and those without CD (P = 0.015 and P = 0.026, respectively). The average HbA1c in the celiac group was 8.61 ± 2.20 (95% CI: 5.1 - 12.1) prior to GFD therapy. HbA1c was assessed six and twelve months following the initiation of the GFD and was found to be 8.32 ± 1.46 (95% CI: 6 - 9.8) and 8.37 ± 1.67 (95% CI: 6.1 - 10.2), respectively. No significant change in HbA1c was observed before and after therapy (P = 0.501). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic children with CD exhibit lower weight and height compared to those without CD. Gluten-free diet therapy in patients with CD did not affect HbA1c levels.