I was diagnosed in 1996 when “celiac” and “gluten free” were still foreign words.  I remember the first conversation I had with a fellow Celiac.  I sat on the floor in my bedroom, confused and overwhelmed, listening to the kind voice on the other end of the telephone talking me through gluten free condiment options.  She introduced me to our local support group and within a few years, I was standing as the president.

Support groups serve a great purpose of providing grass root support from others in a similar situation.  This is priceless for newly diagnosed Celiacs and those who love them.  There can be an initial overwhelming sense of confusion and helplessness.  The good news is that even though there is a learning curve, it gets much easier!  And local support groups can be a huge help in the process.

Whether you want to start a support group or improve an existing one, these tips can help get you motivated and succeed. Read More »