It’s been two-and-a-half years since I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Sometimes I feel like a pro and sometimes I still struggle. Anyone with a chronic disease can probably relate to that feeling.
May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month. I have written articles on celiac disease in the past and explained what the disease is and how it affects people, but for this article, I wanted to share some newer research and resources that might help people like me who sometimes still struggle.
Before I get into some research and resources, I feel as though I have a duty to try and clear up some confusion that still exists about celiac disease. While some people with celiac disease live without any symptoms when gluten is ingested, many of us have symptoms that can last for weeks. This reaction can happen from the smallest contamination of gluten, such as putting a crouton on a salad and then removing it. Even if a person doesn’t have symptoms or they are mild, serious damage is still being done to your body.
People with celiac disease should not “cheat and just have a little every once in a while.” Not adhering to a gluten-free diet with celiac disease can lead to poor absorption of nutrients, anemia, infertility, and intestinal cancers, just to name a few. Even though many people try their best to adhere to a gluten free diet, sometimes symptoms still persist. For those with celiac disease, 30 percent still report symptoms while on a gluten free diet and miss an average of 23 school/work days annually due to celiac disease.
There is research happening on different drug therapies with the hope of reducing the burden of living with celiac disease and improving long-term health outcomes. (To see a complete list, visit: https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/futuretherapies-for-celiacdisease/).
For example, one drug therapy in development is Nexvax2®. ImmusanT is a clinical development-stage biotechnology company working on Nexvax2®, the only disease-modifying treatment in clinical development today that has the potential to enable celiac disease patients to return to a normal diet. Booster shots of Nexvax2® would offer periodic reinforcements of the treatment to establish a prolonged tolerance to gluten. ImmusanT plans to release Nexvax2® first to protect patients from inadvertent gluten exposure (e.g., cross-contact with gluten when dining out), followed by a vaccine that would allow patients to resume a diet containing gluten. http://www.immusant.com/clinical-development/celiac-disease-programs.php
Some Bad News
Results from a new study suggest that cell immunity in the bowel is irreversibly altered by celiac disease. Dr. Bana Jabri, study author from the University of Chicago, explained: “Chronic inflammation caused by gluten causes an immunological scar that results in the loss of intestinal resident immune (gamma delta T cell) subset that has an important role in tumor surveillance and fighting against infection.”
This means that the damage caused by gluten results in the permanent loss of these beneficial immune cells in celiac patients. While a strict, gluten-free diet can alleviate many of the short-term symptoms of celiac disease, the diet alone is not enough to undo the permanent damage to the intestine.
Resources
Some people find apps like the Gluten Free Scanner very helpful to navigate shopping in the grocery store as label reading can be a daunting and confusing task.
Traveling and celiac disease don’t always mix well, so using the Find Me Gluten Free app can be very helpful to search – by city for example – to see where other people have eaten, how they would rate their experience, and if they got sick after eating there.
Nima is a portable gluten tester. Nima’s antibody-based chemistry was developed by MIT scientists to be faster, cheaper, and usable right at the dinner table. Nima is optimized to detect 20ppm of gluten which is the FDA standard for gluten free.
To learn more about celiac disease, visit the Celiac Disease Foundation website, www.celiac.org, or contact Kayla Cole, RDN, LRD, a clinical dietitian with Trinity Health at 701-857-5107 or [emailprotected].
People with celiac disease should not “cheat and just have a little every once in a while.” Not adhering to a gluten-free diet with celiac disease can lead to poor absorption of nutrients, anemia, infertility, and intestinal cancers, just to name a few.
This means checking labels, watching out for cross-contact with gluten, and checking about ingredients and preparation methods when eating away from home. It does not allow for cheating – even if you do not have symptoms.
For people with coeliac disease, even small amounts of gluten can damage the lining of the small intestine (bowel), which prevents the proper absorption of food nutrients. Inflammation also occurs elsewhere in the body. If you have coeliac disease, inflammation and damage can occur even if you have no symptoms.
After you stop eating foods with gluten, your symptoms will likely get better in a few days to weeks. Your small intestine should heal completely in 3 to 6 months. In some cases, it can take longer for full healing, even though you may feel better. Your villi will be back and working again.
Avoid all products with barley, rye, triticale (a cross between wheat and rye), farina, graham flour, semolina, and any other kind of flour, including self-rising and durum, not labeled gluten-free. Be careful of corn and rice products.
If you kiss someone that has recently eaten or drank something containing gluten, there is a risk of cross contamination and being glutened because of the particles in their mouth. As we all know, a crumb contains enough traces of gluten to cause a reaction in some coeliacs.
Celiac disease is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction where symptoms develop 48-72 hours after ingestion of the offending food which is in contrast to IgE-mediated food allergies where symptoms develop rather quickly. But, celiac disease shares some common features with IgE-mediated food allergies also.
While there is currently no treatment for celiac disease, there are 24 potential therapies in various stages of development, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation. Notably, the therapies being tested are designed to target different parts of the disease pathway, Fasano said.
Most people who've been diagnosed and have stopped eating gluten have an excellent prognosis. Most of the damage done by celiac disease can be undone. If you continue to have symptoms, it may be that you're consuming small amounts of gluten without realizing it, or you may have a secondary condition.
Because of these special needs, celiac disease is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This designation is particularly relevant in certain public establishments, like educational institutions, from pre-school to college.
Of course, stage four is the most advanced stage and is not seen too often. In this stage, Orlando Gastroenterology Consultants of Central Florida see the villi are completely flattened, or atrophied. The crypts, or depressions, between them are shrunken too.
Once you've ingested gluten, your only option is to wait for it to pass through your system. There's no quick fix – no way of truly speeding up the process. The best thing you can do is be kind to your body. Treat individual symptoms as they arise, stay hydrated, and get back on track with your gluten free diet.
However, celiac disease is much more than a digestive problem. Some of the top atypical symptoms are anemia, bones disease, elevated liver enzymes, neurological problems like migraines, short stature and reproductive problems. Learn more about each on below.
If you or one of your dependents has celiac disease and you itemize your deductions, the extra costs due to gluten-free dietary restrictions may be taken as a medical expense.
Gluten can be found in wheat products, spelt, rye, and barley. If your symptoms of celiac disease have lasted for a year or more and kept you from working full-time, then you might be eligible for disability benefits.
Yale researchers found that when patients fast a compound, known as hydroxybutyrate, is produced. This compound inhibits inflammatory responses, which may be able to reduce inflammation in celiac disease. Patients may be able to utilize fasting to lower the levels of inflammation in their gut.
Yes, Quality Street and Roses are, but Celebrations are not gluten-free! Also, almost all of the Cadbury Heroes chocolates are gluten-free, apart from the 'dinky decker' inside – but I haven't included Cadbury Heroes in this post as there's no easy and clear way to post the product whilst clearly stating this caveat.
People with celiac disease may experience weight gain after starting a gluten-free diet; this initial weight gain indicates that their intestinal health is improving and they are more effectively absorbing nutrients. However, gaining too much weight can lead to multiple health problems.
Some people report feeling dizziness, nausea, extreme hunger and even anxiety and depression when they suddenly go from eating a lot of gluten to being gluten-free. These symptoms usually go away after a few weeks on a gluten-free diet, but talk to your health care provider if they persist.
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Introduction: My name is Msgr. Benton Quitzon, I am a comfortable, charming, thankful, happy, adventurous, handsome, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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