While celiac patients generally have little trouble adjusting to the addition of gluten free multigrain breads in their diets, those who also suffer from diabetes can find the change problematic. Patients who suffer from both diseases have little choice other than to make the switch, but that new diet creates a need for other lifestyle changes as well.
In the celiac patient, the switch from wheat grain products is a necessary one. Patients who have this disease cannot tolerate even small amounts of the protein found in these grains. The addition of diabetes to this equation, however, can produce complications that patients must carefully address.
The benefits provided to celiac sufferers by a change in diet are well-known. Once the proteins are removed, the damage to these patients’ intestinal lining begins to heal. As it does so, the nutrients that were previously lost are suddenly absorbed properly. Along with these nutrients, the body also receives more starches and sugars.
Obviously, this sudden influx of sugars can impact the glucose levels of any patient with diabetes. This can require an increased dose of insulin to ensure that blood sugar levels remain stable. Diabetic patients on this diet will need to closely monitor their hemoglobin levels as well, since those levels tend to rise when wheat proteins are eliminated.
To properly deal with these unpredictable effects, patients who suffer from these diseases should meet with a nutritional expert. A professional dietitian who understands the special dietary needs these diseases necessitate will be able to develop an appropriate nutritional plan to help the patient manage his conditions. The suggestion of gluten free multigrain breads is a popular option.
For many people who discover that they have both diabetes and celiac disease, the process of learning to manage them properly can be extremely frustrating. With professional help, however, most patients will have little trouble adjusting to gluten free multigrain breads while still taking the necessary steps to control their diabetes.