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Celiac And Diabetic--double Whammy

cowrdlyon

By cowrdlyon
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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cowrdlyon Rookie
cowrdlyon
Posted

I was dx with Celiac 5 weeks ago and just as I began to get used to that idea I found out that I am also diabetic. This unfortunately narrows my food choices even more. I am frustrated at trying to find good food choices for both problems. Several of the gluten-free snacks that I found I liked shoot my blood sugar up so I shouldn't be eating them. I then beat myself up emotionally because I have eaten something I shouldn't because of the diabetes. Can anyone identify with me or make any food or diet suggestions as I find myself eating the same thing everyday and beginning to hate it. Help! My wife is extremely supportive but she is getting bored with the same old foods at home also.....

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L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
I was dx with Celiac 5 weeks ago and just as I began to get used to that idea I found out that I am also diabetic. This unfortunately narrows my food choices even more. I am frustrated at trying to find good food choices for both problems. Several of the gluten-free snacks that I found I liked shoot my blood sugar up so I shouldn't be eating them. I then beat myself up emotionally because I have eaten something I shouldn't because of the diabetes. Can anyone identify with me or make any food or diet suggestions as I find myself eating the same thing everyday and beginning to hate it. Help! My wife is extremely supportive but she is getting bored with the same old foods at home also.....

I know how you feel. I was diagnosed as a diabetic at age 14 and five years ago found out I have celiacs (I'm 47). According to my specialist, the two strike together quite often.

I had the diabetic diet down so adapting for celiacs was a bit easier. You're right though a lot of prepared gluten-free stuff has a high sugar content. I tend to make a lot of own cookies, cakes etc and adapt for a lower sugar content. What food group area are you having the most trouble with?

cowrdlyon Rookie
cowrdlyon
Posted
  • Author
I know how you feel. I was diagnosed as a diabetic at age 14 and five years ago found out I have celiacs (I'm 47). According to my specialist, the two strike together quite often.

I had the diabetic diet down so adapting for celiacs was a bit easier. You're right though a lot of prepared gluten-free stuff has a high sugar content. I tend to make a lot of own cookies, cakes etc and adapt for a lower sugar content. What food group area are you having the most trouble with?

I don't know if it's just one specific food group other than I really miss good bread. I'm running low on ideas of things that are portable...specifically for lunch. I have access to a microwave and a refridgerator but I really can't "cook" per se. I shy away from cold lunch meats because I have no clue what they're preserved and packaged with. I don't know....I guess I'm just being whiney.....

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
I don't know if it's just one specific food group other than I really miss good bread. I'm running low on ideas of things that are portable...specifically for lunch. I have access to a microwave and a refridgerator but I really can't "cook" per se. I shy away from cold lunch meats because I have no clue what they're preserved and packaged with. I don't know....I guess I'm just being whiney.....

Hi I am a newly diagnosed diabetic also who was diagnosed with celiac about 4 years ago. I have a much harder time getting used to the diabetes than I did the celiac. I am afraid I am not too much help but one thing you may want to look into is Hormel Deli Meats in the Brown Wrapper, they are gluten free and marked as so and also have no preservatives or additives. I use them for wraps with cheese, throw the ham in scrambled eggs etc. I find the less artificial sweeteners and processed starches I use the better I feel but I also feel pretty restricted diet wise. Hopefully others will have more advice for the both of us.

Matilda Enthusiast
Matilda
Posted

...

Anteau25 Apprentice
Anteau25
Posted
I was dx with Celiac 5 weeks ago and just as I began to get used to that idea I found out that I am also diabetic. This unfortunately narrows my food choices even more. I am frustrated at trying to find good food choices for both problems. Several of the gluten-free snacks that I found I liked shoot my blood sugar up so I shouldn't be eating them. I then beat myself up emotionally because I have eaten something I shouldn't because of the diabetes. Can anyone identify with me or make any food or diet suggestions as I find myself eating the same thing everyday and beginning to hate it. Help! My wife is extremely supportive but she is getting bored with the same old foods at home also.....

Hi. I know how you feel but can't really help you with food suggestions. I am having the same problem. I was was diagnosed with diabetes 18 years ago when I was 7. I was diagnosed with celiac disease 7 weeks ago and started the diet 5 weeks ago after my biopsy. My blood sugar has spiked from some foods too. It's very frustrating. Sorry to hear about the "double whammy". I feel your pain. Good luck!

tiredofdoctors Enthusiast
tiredofdoctors
Posted

I was diagnosed with "gluten ataxia" and gluten intolerance almost two years ago. I have been gluten-free for a year and a half. I was just diagnosed with hyperinsulinemia -- the precursor to Type II diabetes this past Friday. I'm going to see the dietician on -- haha -- Friday, October 13. Talk about a fated day!

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JennFog Rookie
JennFog
Posted

Hi tiredofdoctors, and I don't blame you at all!!!

I was diag'd 7 months ago with celiac after years of suffering. I do not have diabetes but it does run in my family, however I do have PCOS and as matter of fact I am recovering from surgery as we speak, another persisent cyst. My obgyn says sugars have a lot to do with PCOS.

My doctor recently told me that he believes I am very sensitive to sugars and chemicals and could end up with diabetes. So I recently have switched from soda to seltzer water w/ a splash of orange, lemon, lime or grape juice. Also, dr said to cut back on my rice noodles to 1/2 cup/day, only 1 sugar in my coffee a day. So my diet changed again and I am trying to eat foods with less chemicals and less sugars. Rather than be bummed about it, I have taken a positive approach and now I cook double the meat at dinner 2 ways and eat it one for dinner and the other kind for lunch. Cook 2 veggies with dinner rather than rice noodles or potato. Breakfast is the same everyday, i just love a whole tomato cut into chunks with scallions, salt, pepper and olive oil with a side of cottage cheese (Cabot brand is the best). I love making my mexican salad, lettuce tomato monterey jack cheese onions olive salsa sour cream & a hand full of baked cornchips, yum. I keep the ready to eat shrimp in the freezer thaws in 10 minutes in luke warm water. I also keep individual separated just enough low fat sirlion/hamburger enough for me in the freezer, takes little time to thaw then season it with seasoning (steak style, mexican, spicy anything) and cook, eat with veggies on the side. I by low fat or turkey kielbasa and fry it with lots of peppers and onion, now normal I would serve it on bread or rice, but it is just as good without. My snacks ultimately have changed to fruits and veggies, w/homemade dips made from sour cream or plain yogurt, just jazz them up (I will sautee onions let them cool and mix in the sourcream or for the yogurt i like crushed pineapple no sugar added or crushed strawberries). I still every couple of days cheat and have some chocolate (dark not milk), doritos or potato chips but my energy plummets a few hours later so I do this closer to bedtime.

There is still so much you can do. I use seasonings, gluten free vinegars, gluten free soy sauce, make gluten-free salad dressing, homemade tomato sauce no sugar added.

I know my energy levels are better this way. If you like to read get gluten free for dummies and paleo diet and check out paleofood.com. I like the paleo book but I still eat a little sugar, salt and dairy. I do stay away from potatoes, corn, rice (for the most part) but I stay away from things with too many chemicals and too many sugars.

I hope this helps! If you need somemore ideas, let me know I have plenty. I am a busy mom and i like things easy, difficulty just doesn't fit into my life. I am also on a budget, so going to by gluten-free cookies cakes and breads just don't fit and after 2 months I just don't missed them. Matter of fact in recovery at the hospital they gave me gluten-free toast, I just don't miss bread at all, I would have rather had a piece of fruit.

Good Luck!

ehrin Explorer
ehrin
Posted

Welcome to the club Cowrdlyon!

I've had T1 diabetes for 27 years and Celiac for 1 - are you T1 or T2?

Definitely puts a cog in the proverbial wheel!

I hate to tell you but the gluten-free foods just are not kind to our blood sugars.

Depending on which type you are it could either be mildly irritating or down right irritating.

Being a T1 I can cover any of these high sugar, no fiber, goodies with insulin -

but it's not worth it to me - to take so much insulin for such a little treat.

If you are a T2, managing with diet & exercise (and perhaps metformin or Actos or whatever) I'd see how it could be even harder - since nothing short of 30 min of cardio would help combat one cookie.

My advice is to stay away from them and have them as a treat.

I have ice cream now instead of cookies when I need something (Edy's has many gluten-free flavors!)

And I make my own bread, with a bread machine.

My bread, for some reason, is much kinder to my BG's.

Instead of cereal or toast I have a some fruit and cheese.

You'll figure it out!

It's not easy - perserverance is key.

Good Luck!

Ehrin

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