Tag Archives: Celiac disease

21 Important Celiac Disease Facts You Need to Know

21-CD-Facts-You-Need-to-Know

  1. Celiac disease is the most common genetic autoimmune disease in the world.
  1. Celiac disease is the most commonly misdiagnosed disease in the world.
  1. Celiac disease blood tests are not pass / fail. They measure antibody levels that suggest how likely an intestinal biopsy will discover damage consistent with celiac disease.
  1. Celiac disease can affect any genetically predisposed person of every race or gender and can first present symptoms at any age.
  1. Optimal treatment of celiac disease includes 1) a 100% strict gluten-free diet, 2) nutrient deficiency identification and replenishment and 3) education and support that meet the physical and emotional needs of the patient.
  1. Most cases of unresponsive celiac disease are due to inadvertent gluten exposure, where the person is consuming gluten without realizing it.
  1. The average person with celiac disease has a normal body mass index. The traditional thinking was that a person with celiac disease would be underweight.
  1. Silent celiac disease refers to a person who tests positive on blood test and villous atrophy on intestinal biopsy, but exhibits no overt symptoms.
  1. Celiac disease presents submicroscopic damage causing nutrient deficiencies before villous atrophy. That is, before an endoscopy with biopsy finds intestinal damage, damage can already be occurring.
  1. 50% of people diagnosed with Celiac disease exhibit neurological symptoms at the time of diagnosis.
  1. Doctors consider celiac disease to be a gastrointestinal disease. Many people with neurological symptoms due to celiac disease do not exhibit gastrointestinal symptoms. These people have a decreased chance of receiving a proper diagnosis and treatment.
  1. Anxiety can be the only symptom of celiac disease. In this case it is due to nutrient deficiencies.
  1. Celiac disease tests are not pass / fail. A patient can test “negative” on one day and positive two weeks later. Follow up testing should be performed if symptoms do not resolve.
  1. Patient education is the most important predictor of good clinical outcome in celiac disease. The more you know, the more likely you will be to avoid gluten, develop a diet that works best for your health and lifestyle, get well and stay healthy.
  1. Celiac disease symptoms can be completely different among family members.
  1. Celiac disease symptoms number over 300, are widely varied in nature, affecting every and any body system and organ. (The 300 symptoms list was first presented in “Recognizing Celiac Disease,” authored by Cleo Libonati, RN, BSN and published by Glutenfreeworks.com in 2007.)
  1. Symptoms in celiac disease are due to inflammation and/or nutrient deficiencies from chronic intestinal damage.
  1. Celiac disease diagnosis can take10 years or more from the time symptoms first present. It is frequently the last disease doctors consider.
  1. Celiac disease affects over 3 million people in the United States, yet the vast majority are not diagnosed. The symptoms of celiac disease are frequently considered the definitive diagnosis, leaving the true underlying cause untreated.
  1. Exposure to gluten is the most important environmental factor in celiac disease. The sooner gluten is removed from the diet, the more likely full remission will be achieved and long term complications can be avoided.
  1. Although celiac disease is now known to cause over 300 symptoms, the medical community has traditionally instructed doctors that celiac disease affects children, presenting symptoms of 1) diarrhea, 2) wasting muscles, 3) anemia, and 4) abdominal distention (bloating). You must request celiac disease testing if you do not fit this list, and often even if you do. Assuming doctors look for celiac disease is a mistake.

This article brought to you by the Gluten Free Works Health Guide! Everything you need to know about celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, your symptoms and how to fix them!

May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month. Spread the Word!

celiac disease awarenessCeliac disease awareness is desperately needed – now more than ever. 

While the gluten-free diet has exploded in popularity, celiac disease remains massively under-diagnosed.

Why? Two Reasons: 

1. The public has shifted its focus to the gluten-free diet and away from celiac disease due to the media. The media likes diets. Diets sell. Oddly named diseases that are difficult to describe in catchy sound bites don’t sell.

2. Doctors do not have the information they need to recognize, diagnose and treat this common disorder. The information exists but there is no authority that actively ensures Read More »

Step by Step Guide: Beginning the Gluten-Free Lifestyle

FOR THE NEWLY-DIAGNOSED CELIAC AND DH’er STEP-BY-STEP:  BEGINNING THE GLUTEN-FREE LIFESTYLE©

by Janet Y. Rinehart, Houston,  and Lynn Rainwater, San Antonio

BEGIN

A definite diagnosis of Celiac Disease (screening blood tests plus endoscopic biopsies) and/or Dermatitis Herpetiformis (skin biopsy) means a lifetime commitment to a gluten-free diet.

  • Take full advantage of your local chapter membership.  Our group leaders and contacts have experience with the gluten-free diet.  We can help you acclimate to the changes in your lifestyle. We welcome your questions.
  • Join national celiac support groups, for example: Read More »

Most People Do Not Realize How Sick They Really Are 

stock-photo-3443895-depression-and-sorrow1-216x300[1]
We are told the gluten-free diet is the only treatment for celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. We follow the diet, but do not recover fully. Many times, because we feel better than before, we do not grasp that we can be so much healthier than we are.
 
There are a host of health issues that can and should be treated through diet, supplements and medications, reducing inflammation and correcting deficiencies. Hundreds in fact.
 
Many times, we are told our symptoms are just who we are. And we accept that, because we don’t know any better.
 
Even our doctors have no idea that their patients who suffer from fatigue, thinning hair, flaking fingernails, poor vision, constant irritability, forgetfulness, mottled skin and hundreds of problems that they believe are “normal” day-to-day conditions actually result from Read More »

Celiac Disease Fact: Celiac Disease Tests are NOT Pass or Fail

This is a Celiac Disease Awareness Month Public Service Announcement.

Many people, including doctors, believe that the blood tests for celiac disease are pass/fail, and that if you have a negative result you can never in the future have a positive result. This is wrong. See how all the celiac disease tests work on our Diagnosis page.

cd-how-tests-work-gfw

This message was brought to you by our  Gluten Free Extravaganza sponsors, Kay’s Naturals, Better BatterBard’s Beer and Uncle Steve’s Italian Specialties!

Celiac Disease Fact: Celiac Disease Is An Undiagnosed Epidemic

This is a Celiac Disease Awareness Month Public Service Announcement.

Celiac disease affects 1% of the worldwide population. In the United States, it is estimated up to 17% of people with celiac disease are diagnosed. The rest are sick, but have no idea what is causing their problems.

cd-epidemic-better-batter

This public service announcement is brought to you by Better Batter Gluten Free Mixes and The Gluten Free Extravaganza. Be sure to visit the Gluten Free Extravaganza Website where we are giving away 100s of prizes all month!

Celiac Disease Fact: Diagnosis Can Take Years

This is a Celiac Disease Awareness Month public service announcement.

Pass it on! Celiac disease diagnosis can take years. Not because tests don’t exist, but rather because doctors do not consider celiac disease when looking at your symptoms. Frequently, a symptom of celiac disease will receive the diagnosis, leaving the underlying cause untreated. Request to be tested if your symptoms match any on this symptom list.

cd-10-years-or-more

Be sure to visit the Gluten Free Extravaganza Website where we are giving away 100s of prizes all month! This message was brought to you by our sponsor, Kay’s Naturals. Visit Kay’s Naturals to see all their gluten-free, protein rich snacks and cereals.

ImmunogenX Acquires Celiac Disease Therapy from Alvine Pharmaceuticals

Immunogenx-logo-lowx41[1]A therapy for celiac disease is one step closer. ImmunogenX purchased the license for Alvine Pharmaceuticals’ medicine, ALV003, which degrades gluten before it can be digested and absorbed by the intestines. The following press release was distributed by ImmunogenX.

“Glutenase for in-vivo gluten degradation is a leading candidate for celiac disease ImmunogenX™, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune and gastrointestinal diseases, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the non-cash assets of Alvine Pharmaceuticals.

This includes Latiglutenase (formerly known as ALV003 and renamed IMGX003), an orally administered mixture of two recombinant gluten-specific proteases that degrades gluten proteins into small physiologically irrelevant fragments. The technology is backed by over 50 issued or pending patents, has been extensively studied in Phase I and Phase 2 clinical trials, and is the only CD treatment that has demonstrated histologic success as well as symptomatic improvements in Read More »

Innovate Biopharmaceuticals Completes License For Late-Stage Celiac Disease Asset From Alba Therapeutics

Alba_Logo[1]Alba Therapeutics has been working on a therapy for celiac disease the past 8 years. Alba’s therapy, Larazotide Acetate, is the first to reach phase 3 clinical trials, where it will be given to large groups of people.

When Alba first contacted us about helping to promote their phase 2 clinical trial, we investigated the therapy’s mechanism and were glad to see the drug is not absorbed into the body, but acts in the intestine to stop gluten from being absorbed. Better yet, it worked. We covered Larazote Acetate in our article, Medical Research Study to Test a Potential Celiac Disease Therapy Is Underway and Signing up Participants.

A real therapy for celiac disease is one step closer. Alba just sent us the following press release concerning their deal with Innovate Biopharmaceuticals to produce the therapy.  Read More »

Gluten Kills Awareness Tee Shirts and Hoodies

Gluten is killing people. Spread awareness and look great doing it with these awesome Gluten Kills tees & hoodies!

Gluten Kills Ladies Forest Tee

Gluten Kills Ladies Forest Tee! Other colors available.

Click here to get yours! 

Gluten sensitivity and celiac disease causes over 300 signs, symptoms associated disorders and complications. Millions of people around the world are affected, but the rate of diagnosis is low. Most people and doctors do not realize how many symptoms and illnesses gluten causes. Read More »