Sourced from: Infinite Health Blog, by Dr. Davis, originally posted on the Wheat Belly Blog: 2013-04-19

Type 1 diabetes . . . cured?

Carrie posted this wonderfully thought-provoking comment about her diabetic son:

My 13 yr old son was diagnosed over a year ago with Type 1 [diabetes]. Before his diagnosis, I was very ‘green’ — bought organic foods, bought meat from free-range, grass-fed local farms, cleaned my house with products I made myself from vinegar and natural products. But we did follow the low-fat, low-calorie, high-fiber, healthy whole grain diet. We were told “eat whatever you want” — just dose for it [with insulin] and be healthy (yep: low-fat, high-fiber, etc.)

I didn’t think so: If he has a carb problem, then limit carbs! We immediately went low-carb, causing us to remove a lot of wheat products, but didn’t know about the damages of gluten then.

His last two A1Cs [hemoglobin A1c’s, a 60-90 day reflection of blood sugar fluctuations] have been 5.3% [normal range]. He was taken off his basal insulin and his bolus, continuing to less and less. Today, he is OFF insulin! YES, he is a Type 1 diabetic: They double-checked for the antibodies in case he was misdiagnosed–they are there. Even without insulin, his blood sugars are better than me or his dad, or even sister (we all check now). And all this while growing over 5 inches in one year, going through puberty and the stomach flu with no problems (scary for Type 1 diabetics).

His doctors are amazed. We all still did not know how he was this way, until someone shared with me Wheat Belly. We are all going completely gluten-free now and staying low-carb. Maybe my asthma will be gone and my daughter’s horrible itchy rash all over her arms will finally leave!

Absolutely wonderful book, thank you!

Wow. We know that consumption of modern wheat is associated with causing type 1 diabetes in children, average age of onset 4 years old. This is true in humans, as well as in two experimental models for type 1 diabetes in both rats and mice. This is not to say that all type 1 diabetes is caused by wheat consumption, but that an important subset is caused by wheat. But then how many other correctable causes of type 1 diabetes are you aware of?

Think about this: Type 1 diabetes in children, a diagnosis for life for the majority of those afflicted, a potentially fatal disease prior to the availability of insulin, is caused by consumption of wheat in some kids. That alone is concerning.

What if ALL kids with type 1 diabetes did what Carrie’s son did and rejected all things wheat? Would some enjoy the same apparent regeneration of pancreatic beta cells that allowed her son to become non-type 1 diabetic?

There is no answer, as the clinical trial to provide the answer has not been performed. But is this incredibly exciting or what? Even if only 1% are cured, why not try? That 1% can be spared this life long diagnosis.

No: Humans are NOT meant to consume “healthy whole grains.” Our intolerance can show up as type 1 diabetes in kids, type 2 diabetes in kids and adults, acid reflux, bowel urgency, autoimmune diseases, dementia, seizures, hypertension, water retention, paranoia, anxiety, eating disorders, or just feeling rotten. It can show up in a myriad of ways because they do not belong in the human body.

That blog post ignited a firestorm of comments and rants from parents who, confusing cultural ignorance for personal blame, did not want to hear that the kid’s T1D might have resulted from diet. My recollection from the time was that a substantial number of comments were removed by whomever was then moderating. Here’s a clarifying comment still there:

Dr. Davis
November 7, 2013 at 10:23 am

The ONLY hope a type 1 diabetic has of potentially bringing a halt to the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells is to IMMEDIATELY remove all sources of gliadin and gliadin-like proteins from the diet: wheat, rye, barley, and corn.

The experimental and human data are quite clear: Wheat causes the autoimmune process leading to type 1 diabetes in a subset of people. What is NOT clear is just how many people who have grain-induced type 1 can hope for remission upon immediate removal.

The angry type 1 diabetics or parents of type 1 diabetics who argue that this is wrong are referring to the chronic presence of type 1 diabetes, long after all pancreatic beta cells have been destroyed. I am talking about the acute situation upon diagnosis or, even better, before it happens. These are two completely different situations.