I remember when I was diagnosed with celiac disease. My very first question was, “What even is a celiac disease? What does this mean?” I vaguely remember the woman on the phone quickly rattle off something about not being able to eat gluten. “What is gluten?” I responded, having no idea what was happening.
Luckily now, there is a lot more awareness about celiac disease and the gluten-free lifestyle. If you are new to it all, I’ll give you the full rundown in this post.
So, What Exactly is Celiac Disease?
Basically, celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the small intestine when a person who has it eats gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Although most people refer to celiac disease as an “allergy”, it’s actually much more serious.
When someone with celiac disease consumes gluten, their body responds by attacking the villi in the small intestine. Villi is responsible for nutrient absorption, so when the villi are damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed into the body properly.
Unfortunately, many people go undiagnosed. In my case, I was extremely sick for 6 months before I finally had a *minor* outburst at the doctor demanding a solution. Although the answer, “It was probably just something you ate.” was somewhat accurate, it didn’t exactly help me at the time. Finally, I was referred to someone who finally diagnosed me. Celiac disease is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide. Nearly 3 million people are undiagnosed and are at high risk for future complications.
What Happens if Celiac Disease Goes Undiagnosed?
Celiac disease can appear at any age in life, so even if you’ve been cleared in the past it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re 100% good. If you ever notice symptoms (which we’ll talk about) it is so important to speak to your doctor.
Continuing to Eat Gluten With Celiac Disease (Due to Ignoring it or Being Undiagnosed) Can Lead To…
- Anemia
- Early-onset osteoporosis
- Infertility
- Miscarriage
- Lactose intolerance
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Central and peripheral nervous system disorders
- Pancreatic insufficiency
- Gastrointestinal cancers
- Gall bladder malfunction
- Neurological manifestations, including ataxia, epileptic seizures, dementia, migraines, neuropathy, myopathy, and multifocal leukoencephalopathy
Is There a Cure for Celiac Disease?
Currently, there is no actual cure for celiac disease. The only way to be safe is to eat a completely gluten-free diet. This doesn’t just mean gluten-free foods but avoiding cross-contamination as well. Even something as tiny as a breadcrumb can damage the small intestine.
If you have celiac disease, make sure that the label explicitly says “gluten-free” on it and be very picky with restaurants you eat at. Sadly, celiac disease is still somewhat unknown and people don’t understand the damage cross-contamination can do for someone.
If you notice that your body reacts poorly after eating foods that contain gluten, it is important to consult with your doctor so you can have a blood test done. After that, you may have a colonoscopy for a more thorough analysis.
Feel free to message me with any questions you have, or even just to vent. I’m always here for you!
Source: Celiac Disease Foundation