Celiac Disease is an extremely serious autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive system. When the body encounters gluten, such as wheat products, the effected individual will have a flare-up, which can cause a variety of symptoms, including bloating, diarrhea, nausea, depression, and lethargy.
Who gets Celiac?
Celiac Disease is always genetically predisposed, and more common amongst people who are white, assigned female at birth, and who have other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. This disease, most common to people of Northern European descent, effects about 1% of European and North American populations.
What to Avoid?
People with Celiac Disease cannot eat gluten, most commonly including wheat, barley, rye, and often soy. Cross-contamination is a frequent barrier; this means when a gluten-free food meets gluten. For example, a person with Celiac may order gluten-free toast at a restaurant, but when it is toasted in the same toaster as the regular toast, some regular breadcrumbs (gluten) sneak into this person’s toast. Even this small amount of gluten can be of great harm, especially if they have been diligently gluten-free for some time. It is recommended to “interview” servers at restaurants and emphasize that one has Celiac disease if eating out, to avoid cross-contamination. At home, if the household is not fully gluten-free, having separate toasters, separate butter dishes, and similar, can minimize the risk of cross-contamination. There are many apps and social media groups to help find truly gluten-free stores and restaurants, and it is important to carefully read through the ingredients of new foods before purchasing.
Is there a Cure?
There is no cure for Celiac Disease, and once contaminated, a person unfortunately needs to see it through. Typical flare-ups last a few days, but if symptoms are significant or extreme, they can always consult with their provider.
Resources
Celiac Disease – Mayo Clinic general information about the disease.
Gluten Free Recipes – Celiac-safe recipes from the National Celiac Association.
Accessibility Advisory Committee YouTube Playlist – The AAC YouTube playlist has a variety of videos, with PowerPoints, presentations performed by members, and recordings of past workshops at Shoreline. Let us know about specific topics that you think would be interesting for us to develop into videos!
How are we doing?
Please submit feedback about the information that the Accessibility Advisory Committee shares to Miranda Levy via email at mlevy@shoreline.edu so that the committee can review together and serve the campus community better.
