Digestive glitch could spur diabetes: study

Ottawa Citizen

Want an explanation for why some people develop Type 1 diabetes? Look no further than the human gut, says a new study by Ottawa researchers.

“Our research suggests that people with certain genes may be more likely to develop an over-reaction to wheat and possibly other foods in the gut and this may tip the balance with the immune system and make the body more likely to develop other immune problems, such as Type 1 diabetes,” said Dr. Fraser Scott, a member of the research team and a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

The study of 42 Ottawa-area young adults with Type 1 diabetes suggests that people with certain genes may be more likely to develop an over-reaction to wheat in the gut. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks the pancreas, the organ that regulates blood sugar.

The Ottawa study analysed the white blood cells of the subjects, looking for a response to partially-digested wheat proteins.

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