– The cause of celiac disease is not known.
– Celiac disease is an auto-immune disease so you are born with the gene. (When and why it rears its ugly head eventually is unknown.)
– About three million Americans suffer from celiac. (And two million spouses suffer from all of the bitching and moaning).
– There is no cure for celiac…only treatment via a strict gluten free diet.
– Over 90% of celiacs are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed (costing our healthcare systems millions of dollars unnecessarily).
– Celiac disease declined during the bread shortages of the Second World War but climbed again after the war (kind of obvious but still interesting).
– Half of all people with celiac do not show any symptoms.
– September 13 is Celiac Awareness Day.
– The gluten free fad diet pisses me off (technically, that’s not a fact, but a strong opinion).
– Even something as small as a bread crumb can inflict intestinal damage for somebody with celiac (this is why cross contamination is so important).
– You can test negative for celiac and still have the disease when it is “triggered” later on in life.
– Once celiac is triggered, it is a life-long disease.
– Some products, like lipstick, toothpaste and vitamins, use gluten for processing but because it is not food, does not need to be labeled.
– Celiac disease sucks.
just wanted to stop by and say THANK YOU! I was only diagnosed 10 days ago and am completly overwhelmed but have vowed to live a gluten free life. I have spent hours reading your blog. It has been the most helpful of all that I have read. After 20 years of misdiagnoses and telling me it is all in my head I have had issues with depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, type II diabetes, bladder issues, stomach pain and other stomach issues and many more. I have had 2 bladder surgeries, hysterectomy, 2 ear surgeries, sinus surgery, gallbladder removal, 2 EGD’s, esophageal tumor (benign) and countless colonoscopy;s and on permanent disability and am only 43. Your blog has made me feel understood for that again I say THANK YOU Gluten Dude and the many others on this blog who have had to suffer due to CD and shared your experiences you have taught me alot and I look forward to learning more.
So sorry to hear about all of your health woes Rene. That is unreal.
By vowing to live a gluten free life, you’re way ahead of many others who are either in denial or who refuse to take it seriously enough.
So kudos to you.