Free Newly Diagnosed Course
Phone: 1-888-CELIAC
"Be persistent. Just because someone says their restaurant
isn't gluten free does not mean there aren't things on the
menu you can eat there. "
– Kira Schlieman
Kira Schlieman – Looking at the Positives While Sheltering in Place
by Katarina Mollo | Apr 30, 2020 | Tips
Hi Everyone! I'd first like to start off by saying I hope you and your families are all safe and well. It's been hard to wrap my head around our current situation, but I have found some ways to help myself stay positive and healthy. For starters: going outside!...
Kira Schlieman – Helpful Tips
by nceliacorg | Feb 22, 2020 | Tips
If you are planning to go out to eat somewhere with friends but you don't know what or how to order, go to that place by yourself or with a parent a few days in advance. Pick one or two things off the menu that you know will be safe for you to order, and stick with...
Josephine Taylor – School Meals
by nceliacorg | Feb 22, 2020 | Testimonials
My name is Josephine Taylor and I am living with celiac disease. I started my journey almost four years ago after being diagnosed with Hashimoto's and celiac disease. This came with an avalanche of symptoms including swelling, an inability to focus, being tired all...
Gluten-Free Resources
Dining Card
NCA Stance on Oats
About ROCK
The ROCK program provides celiac education and support along with age-appropriate educational tools and advocacy training.
National Celiac Association
20 Pickering St
Boston Area: 617-262-5422
Toll Free: 1-888-4-CELIAC
Copyright © 2020 - National Celiac Association | Your Privacy
Getting Started: GF In 1, 2, 3
Copyright © 2020 - National Celiac Association
Please explore this free comprehensive course for parents & caregivers with a newly diagnosed child or teen. This course is packed with everything you need to know about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. In addition, there are many downloadable materials and infographics throughout. Learn how to navigate living life gluten-free to get your child on the right track to good health. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
This course contains three steps:
Step 1: Understanding celiac disease
Step 2: The gluten-free diet
Step 3: Living gluten-free
Use the green arrows to move back and forth between the slides.
Let's get going!
Use this list as a resource for common abbreviations and acronyms used throughout the course.
CD: Celiac disease
DH: Dermatitis herpetiformis
FDA: US Food and Drug Administration
GF: Gluten-free
NCGS: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity
NSLP: National School Lunch Program
RDN: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
USDA: US Department of Agriculture
WBR: Wheat, Barley, Rye
WBRO: Wheat, Barley, Rye, Oats
WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE?
Celiac disease (CD) is a genetic condition where the body reacts to foods we ingest that contain gluten
CD is an autoimmune disease – Autoimmune means that the body's immune system attacks itself and in the case of CD, the immune system attacks the villi in the small intestine when gluten is ingested
Villi are very small fingerlike projections that significantly increase the surface area of the small intestine. The function of the villi is to absorb nutrients from food and into the blood, so that the body can use them
When gluten is ingested the immune system attacks the villi which gets blunted, causing the surface area and ability to absorb nutrients to severly decrease
There is no medication or cure available to treat CD. The only treatment is a strict gluten-free (GF) diet
OTHER NAMES FOR CELIAC DISEASE
Celiac sprue
Gluten-sensitive enteropathy
Coeliac (pronounced celiac and commonly used in UK/Australia)
Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) are common.
About 21 million people in the United States have either CD or NCGS
About 1 percent of the population has CD = 3 million people and about 6 percent have NCGS = 18 million people
CELIAC DISEASE STATISTICS
1 in 100 in the general population
1 in 22 with a first degree relative with CD (mom, dad, sibling)
1 in 39 with a second degree relative (aunt, cousin etc.) (1)
OTHER GLUTEN-RELATED CONDITIONS
DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS (DH)
DH is a different manifestation of celiac disease where the immune system attacks the skin creating an itchy blistering rash when gluten is ingested
It may be present with or without damage to the small intestine
It is diagnosed via skin biopsy by a dermatologist
The treatment is a strict gluten-free diet and may also include medications to manage symptoms
Gluten-Related Conditions Explained
OTHER GLUTEN-RELATED CONDITIONS (continued)
NON-CELIAC GLUTEN SENSITIVITY (NCGS)
NCGS is an intolerance to gluten ingestion that may show some immune response, but little to no villi damage
Symptoms may be similar to CD
It affects about six percent of the population
CD and wheat allergy must be ruled out before a diagnosis of NCGS is made
The treatment is a GF diet (2)
WHEAT ALLERGY
This is an allergic immune reaction to wheat ingestion, and involves a different branch of the immune system than CD
It may include a reaction in the skin, mouth, lungs, and/or GI system
Wheat allergy should be diagnosed by an allergist
The treatment is a wheat-free diet and may include medications to manage symptoms