May Is Also Celiac Awareness Month

Do you know someone with celiac disease? Chances are but neither of you know it. Celiac disease is a hidden disease that often goes undiagnosed unless someone clues in on the signs and symptoms.

Celiac disease is often thought of as a disease or allergy that is just gluten intolerance, but it is much more than that. People with celiac disease can’t have ANY gluten as the gluten damages their intestinal walls bit by bit, leading to severe and sometimes life-threatening complications.

This article, Celiac disease: an elusive ‘iceberg‘,  describes the disease and the effects. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse,

“Celiac disease affects people in all parts of the world. Originally thought to be a rare childhood syndrome, celiac disease is now known to be a common genetic disorder. More than 2 million people in the United States have the disease, or about 1 in 133 people. Among people who have a first-degree relative—a parent, sibling, or child—diagnosed with celiac disease, as many as 1 in 22 people may have the disease.

Here are some links for you to learn more about celiac disease:

• Celiac Disease Foundation
• American Celiac Disease Alliance
• Canadian Celiac Association

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