With September 13 upon us, it seemed like a good time to reflect upon all the reasons why each of us should be spreading awareness about celiac disease. "Why September 13?", you might ask? Well, because it is the birthday of Dr. Samuel Gee, the physician who recognized in 1888 that celiac disease was related to diet.
Gee’s greatest accomplishment with regard to the study of celiac disease, was his recognition of the importance of food, not medicine, as treatment.
“If the patient can be cured at all, it must be by means of diet” ~Dr. Samuel Gee September 13, 1839 – August 3, 1911
On Celiac Awareness Day and every day, we can thank Dr. Samuel Gee for first recognizing that the key to healing celiac disease lies in the diet alone. Over one hundred years after his death, we celiacs still live by this principle, and live well, I might add!
It is critical that everyone with celiac disease be diagnosed and follow a strict gluten-free diet. Untreated celiac disease (i.e. continuing to eat gluten) can lead to other autoimmune diseases and even a shortened life. Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease and its symptoms can manifest in almost any way, so it can be difficult to diagnose, which is why celiac awareness is so critical.
Below is a partial list of potential symptoms of celiac disease. They can occur singly, in combination, occasionally or regularly. Remarkably, most people with undiagnosed celiac disease have no overt symptoms, but they still are at risk from complications of the disease. (This is known as the “Celiac Iceberg”).
For more information, see The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten Free.
Please share this information with anyone you can, so that more people will be diagnosed and start the diet that will help them have a long, healthy life. Show this list to your physicians too — you might be surprised at how much they don't know about celiac disease! … up to 90% of those with celiac still don't know they have it, so we have a lot of awareness to spread!
Bake some gluten-free cookies and start a conversation about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Think of how grateful you would have been for someone to have shared this information with you!
CONGRATULATIONS to Kimberly S! She is our contest winner for the Gluten-Free, vegan shakes from Svelte®!
About Svelte®:
Svelte® is a healthy meal replacement, snack or pre & post-workout protein boost. Made with fresh, organic soymilk, each shake has 11 grams of protein and 20% of your daily recommended fiber. They are sweetened naturally with stevia and contain only 6 grams of sugar. I like to use these shakes in my gluten-free baking, as a healthier milk replacement. Try it in my GF Chai Tea Muffins!
Loading...
This is a great post! The FDA JUST set a standard for gluten-free labels, which is one big step towards a gluten-free friendly world!
Share the knowledge of celiacs. Feel proud and unembarrassed!
Wow! After years and years of going to different doctors for so many of these symptoms, an endoscopy finally found that I have celiac disease four years ago. Since that time, I have gone completely gluten-free and some of the symptoms…not all…are so much better. Thanks, Jule’s, you’ve been a great help!
Jeannie, so glad you got the right answer … finally! It’s a shame that so many of us have to go through so much just to get the diagnosis, but I’m glad you’re on the other side now and are feeling better! Happy that I was able to help you in any way!
I too am gluten sensitive. I appreciate the knowledge you offer here in this forum. My son-in-law is a chiropractor.
thank you kindly,
Jeanie Rock
I swear I educate with every public meal. But I feel it’s important to let others know it isn’t a “fad” diet. It’s my life!
Thank you for this article. I am among the ones that never knew have a gluten sensitivity. And it is only from companies and bloggers of GF and Paleo foods that I realized my thyroid and adrenal issues could be helped and possibly healed with a GF lifestyle. I am on day 56 and already feeling better and down 17 pounds.
Congratulations, Dyanne! Way to go! I’m so glad you’ve found relief on the gluten-free diet!
I talk to all my family and friends a lot about celiac awareness. I am celiac and I am fighting B-cell Follicular Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma!
Hi Kimberly,
Congratulations! You are our randomly drawn winner! Please send an email with your shipping address and phone number to [email protected] so we can get your Svelte shakes out to you right away!
Thanks for sharing! I’m a Celiac newbie and still learning!!!
Being new to this way of life every “grain” of information is appreciated.
I shared it on my facebook page and also shared my son’s diagnosis story.
I was just diagnosed (at age 70!), so I’m sending my kids and grandkids to be tested. A small effort…
Congratulations, Kate, on getting a diagnosis at any age! That’s no small feat! I hope you’re feeling much better now and that your family complies with your wishes that they also be tested!
Love your products and your site!! Thanks to you, my daughter, age 9 and diagnosed with CD at 7 yrs, and our family can enjoy gluten free food. We are trying our best to share Celiac awareness with family members, friends, schools and just about anyone who has an ear. The funny thing is our daughter’s friends accept her Celiac better than anyone else and this was the most surprising result to me. Thank you again and keep up the amazing work!!
Michelle, isn’t it an amazing thing, the resilience and sensitivity of young children? I’ve been amazed as one of my neighbor’s daughter was diagnosed at age 6 and she has absolutely OWNED her celiac disease – she is all over the gluten-free-ness of her foods and is very proud of them. Her friends seem very interested as well, and everyone has treated her so nicely. It’s really heart-warming. So glad to hear that you’re having a similar experience. Thanks for sharing your information with everyone so that more people will receive proper diagnoses!!
shared to my FB page. thank you for posting!
Thanks for sharing, Shannon!
Thanks for sharing this info. Just posted to on FB!! It always amazes me how celiac disease can affect so many parts of our bodies, our organs, our brains, and not just our tummies!
Absolutely, Penny! Thanks for sharing!
Being gluten intolerant I’m always sharing recipes and knowledge to others who are affected or who think they might be. I was diagnosed in 2006 and the first few years were tough because it was all new too everyone. But now it isn’t but I still like to share to make people aware of it!
Thank you for spreading the word, Jessica!
I am a celiac. I was diagnosed for celiac disease Feb 25, 2008 at BroMenn Hospital in Normal, IL.
I would like a free Celiac Disease Awareness lapel pin.
My address is
James Obenland
1700 N. School St.
Apt 40
Normal, IL. 61761
Thank you!
I help share the message about gluten intolerance & Celiac disease through my blog and on my twitter account @beandar. I sure hope we can have some definitive answers about this mysterious digestive illness one day. Maybe we won’t ever be able to go back to eating with abandon like we all dream of, but also maybe we many of us are eating healthier than we would have if we’d never known of gluten intolerance.
Absolutely, Roanna! I agree 100%! There are many pluses to going gluten-free — among them, having to read food labels! It causes you to really think about what you’re willing and not willing to put into your body (gluten aside!).
I will post this information on my blog. Thanks Jules. Keep up the good work you do.
Thank you for sharing! Education helps everyone!!
The University of Pittsburgh’s student group “GLUTEN FREE MY CAMPUS” is having a 2nd annual GLUTEN FREE AWARENESS carnival on Thursday September 19th to promote celiac and gluten sensitivity awareness!
I’m really proud of these kids!
They’ve managed to get the University to take this seriously and offer gluten free meals in the cafeteria as well as gluten free bagles and other food at venues on campus.
They’ve won awards in the past year for their hard work.
Visit their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/249611778430387/
That sounds like a wonderful event, Terry! Thanks for sharing!