Does coexisting celiac disease influence glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM)? A retrospective chart review published in Pediatric Diabetes evaluated this question in pediatric patients diagnosed with T1DM between 2012 and 2023 across a regional health system.

The study included 2,203 individuals younger than 18 years, of whom 101 (4.6%) had celiac disease. Glycemic control was categorized as controlled (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] <7%) or uncontrolled (HbA1c ≥7%). Children with both conditions were younger at T1DM diagnosis (median 9 vs 12 years; p < 0.0001) and had more HbA1c measurements recorded.

A higher proportion of those with celiac disease had uncontrolled HbA1c compared with those without celiac disease (89.1% vs 73.8%; p = 0.0006). After adjustment for age, sex, and race, celiac disease remained independently associated with uncontrolled glycemia (adjusted odds ratio 2.59; 95% confidence interval 1.37-4.90; p = 0.003). Younger age and Black race were also associated with higher odds of uncontrolled diabetes.

These findings indicate that celiac disease was independently associated with suboptimal glycemic control in pediatric patients with T1DM within this cohort.