September 13th is National Celiac Awareness Day! If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry. We created a cheat sheet for you full of fun facts and information about it!
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Celiac Disease is a genetic autoimmune disease that affects the inner lining of the small intestine. Creating problems with digesting gluten and nutrients in food.
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Celiac Disease is also known as Coelic Disease
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About 1 in every 133 Americans has celiac disease (1%)
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It can affect anyone and everyone, it doesn’t matter what race or gender you are
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It is a lifelong disease, therefore those with Celiac Disease are told to go on a lifelong gluten-free diet
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If untreated, it can lead to other disorders and diseases (infertility, some cancers)
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It is estimated that 83% of Americans who have celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.
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The green ribbon represents Celiac Disease
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It would affect someone mentally, physically, and emotionally
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It typically takes about 8-10 years to get diagnosed
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If diagnosed, you will have to go to a GI (gastroenterologist)
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Gastroenterologist: a physician who specializes in diseases of the digestive system, also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
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Gluten-free sales reached more than $2.6 billion by the end of 2010 and are now expected to exceed more than $5 billion by 2015. (Source: Packaged Facts, 2011)
Now that you know what Celiac Disease is, you can test your friends’ knowledge in a trivia and help promote awareness every year on September 13th.
*To learn more visit: https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/facts-and-figures/ *