Role of Gluten-Free Diet on HbA1c Level in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Celiac Disease

Due to autoimmune mechanisms, celiac disease (CD) may affect patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) more than the general population. We evaluated the effect of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on HbA1c levels in patients with both type 1 diabetes and CD. In this cross-sectional study, biochemical and clinical information was gathered from 174 children with T1DM from January 2013 to January 2019. We assessed 174 children with T1DM (93 girls and 81 boys). Celiac disease was diagnosed in 18 out of 174 cases (10.34%). Height and weight percentiles showed significant differences between children with CD and those without CD (P = 0.015 and P = 0.026, respectively). The average HbA1c in the celiac group was 8.61 ± 2.20 (95% CI: 5.1 - 12.1) prior to GFD therapy. HbA1c was assessed six and twelve months following the initiation of the GFD and was found to be 8.32 ± 1.46 (95% CI: 6 - 9.8) and 8.37 ± 1.67 (95% CI: 6.1 - 10.2), respectively. No significant change in HbA1c was observed before and after therapy (P = 0.501). Diabetic children with CD exhibit lower weight and height compared to those without CD. Gluten-free diet therapy in patients with CD did not affect HbA1c levels.