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# Celiac disease linked to type  1 diabetes
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/celiac_disease_linked_to_type_1_diabetes_1224120126/
- Published: 2012-12-24T14:24:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:55:36.000Z
- Description: A study in Endocrine covering 492 type 1 diabetes patients in Western Sicily found 4.5% had already been diagnosed with celiac disease, against a reported general Italian prevalence of 1 in 1,000. Celiac disease was usually diagnosed at or after the diabetes diagnosis.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Disease, Health News, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Monday Dec 24, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Celiac disease has been known to be associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus and other diseases. A new study published recently in the journal Endocrine confirms the association in an Italian population.

D. Greco from Division of Diabetology, Paolo Borsellino Hospital in Marsala, Italy and colleagues conducted the study and found high rate of celiac disease among children and adults with type 1 diabetes in Western Sicily, Italy. 

The study was based on data from 492 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus recorded during a period of five years. Among the patients 4.5% had been diagnosed previously with celiac disease, including 14 females and eight males.

In comparison, the prevalence of diagnosed celiac disease in the general Italian population was 1 in 1000, according to a study published in 2001 in Gastroenterology.

In the study, all the patients had the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus at a mean age of 13 years and celiac disease was diagnosed at the diagnosis of diabetes or after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, particularly in females who had diabetes onset at a young age.

Celiac disease in type 1 diabetes patients can indicate a serious condition, insulin resistance. Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients can't produce insulin and they need to take exogenous insulin to help manage blood sugar. Insulin resistance means insulin does not work effectively as normally expected.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that prevents the absorption of certain food due to the response to gluten found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats as well. 

Symptoms of celiac disease include chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive in children, fatigue, constipation, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, gas or indigestion. But celiac disease can be asymptomatic leaving many patients unaware of this condition.