Five-year Old Gets Celiac Diagnosis During Screening for Diabetes

Celiac.com 02/08/2022 - The numerous connections between celiac disease and diabetes have led many clinicians to screen diabetes patients for celiac disease, and vice versa. The case of a five year-old girl's recent celiac diagnosis during a diabetes study further highlights that connection.

Shane and Staci Vogel, an Iowa couple with a family history of diabetes, enrolled their daughter Kemper, 5, and son Knox, 2, in Sanford Health's PLEDGE study, a large-scale screening of children under age 6 for type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.

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Fortunately, the study found no sign of diabetes in either child, but the process did lead to a celiac diagnosis for Kemper.

Kemper didn't have any clear symptoms of celiac disease at the time of her diagnosis, the family quickly moved to rid their home of gluten ingredients, and get her on a gluten-free diet.

Begun a year ago, with the modest goal of using a few clinics to test 1,000 children for diabetes and celiac disease, the PLEDGE project screened more than 2,000 children in its first year, study researcher Dr. Kurt Griffin told reporters.

The PLEDGE study has grown from just a few clinics to over forty-two, Griffin said, including all of Sanford Health clinics in Sioux Falls, among others.

According to Sanford's website, the study is now enrolling children under 6-years old, provided they are currently receiving annual checkups at Sanford Health, and are not diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Sanford is offering the study at no cost to families.

To learn more about the PLEDGE study and whether your child qualifies, call (877) 878-4825.

Read more in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader