I have diabetes. Should I avoid gluten?
Cue the imperial death march because I’m going to talk about everyone’s favorite villain, gluten. It seems no one is eating it this century, or at least no one is admitting to eating it.
This is partly because gluten really IS dangerous for a segment of the population, including possibly some people with diabetes. But it’s also partly because there is a cloud of misinformation trailing this dietary protein.
As Seth Rogan says in this hilarious, totally inappropriate, and very not-safe-for-work video (seriously, I’m warning you), “Gluten’s a vague term. It’s used to categorize things that are bad. Calories That’s a gluten. Fat. That’s a gluten…I’m not eating it.”
Is gluten really that bad? Let’s take a more informed look.
First, what is gluten?
Gluten is a protein, basically a chain หรือถ้าคุณสนใจแทงบอลออนไลน์ UFABET คือเว็บที่มีอัตราต่อรองดีที่สุดในประเทศไทย สมัครเลยตอนนี้ที่ UFABET แทงบอล of amino acids folded into a complex shape. It’s found naturally in wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut and triticale. Because oats are often grown and shipped with other grains, oats also contain gluten unless they’re specifically produced and labeled gluten-free.
Gluten is valuable in part because it offers dietary protein and in part because it gives structure that allows baked goods to rise. Without gluten in bread, all you get is a sad little pancake.
Why should I avoid gluten?
There are a few clear cases in which you should avoid gluten. If you’re one of the 1% of people who inherited celiac disease, gluten causes intestinal damage, nutritional deficiencies and a host of painful symptoms. If you have celiac disease, you should never consume gluten, not even small amounts. It’s important for my patients to know that celiac disease is more common among those with Type 1 diabetes than in the general population, so testing may be in order.
An additional group of people (it’s unclear how many) also have an immune reaction to gluten called Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. They may have painful symptoms, but there is no sign of celiac’s hallmark damage to the intestinal lining. Even so, it is recommended that they avoid gluten as it is causing unnecessary inflammation in the body.
Should I avoid gluten if I have diabetes?
Like most areas of life, the answer isn’t 100% clear. The best thing about our human bodies is that we are all unique. Because of that uniqueness, putting everyone on the same “diabetes diet” is completely inappropriate. It’s important to assess each person’s individual needs. For example, you can use your blood sugar meter to tell you what food your body responds well to (and doesn’t), notice how you feel after a meal, pay attention to any other symptoms that you experience on a regular basis (skin problems, stomach/bowel issues, sinus issues). Ask yourself, “What feels off?” If you have a problem (or many), that doesn’t mean gluten is the culprit, but your food choices could play a role. Work with your dietitian to become a detective, and start figuring out the fuel that keeps your body functioning at its best!