Poor Socioeconomic Status Linked to decreases in Celiac Disease Diagnosis
As a social work student this short study is probably the most touching of any subject about cealic disease that I have found over the 1.5 years of my gluten free life. Those with poor socioeconomic status, which means lower incomes, not only do not typically have the money for medical care or health insurance but they also are often lacking in education, do not have access to great doctors and do not feel comfortable to speak their mind in the authoritative doctor-patient relationship. Of course all of this would lead to less, and later, diagnoses of celiac disease when the disease is present. this is often the case with many disease and is a very unfortunate structure of our society and health system. Improved education for all doctors and for the public in respect to celiac disease and easier access to health care and testing could eliminate these disparities. However, there would need to be a big movement to make that happen, something each and everyone of us would need to be involved in.

 To top if off gluten free products are often some of the cheapest things, and for those who attend soup kitchens or donation pantries often the only things available, which makes even being diagnosed with celiac disease a struggle. Changes need to be made there as well. So, what can you do to help?

Gluten Free Kellogg Rice Krispies to hit stores in June

Just an update on the Kellogg front. As of June Gluten Free Rice Krispies will be available in stores! This is the first gluten free cereal available from Kellogg and is definitely a step in the right direction to offering more gluten free products!

Celiac Disease diagnosis seems higher among those born in spring or summer months

HOW MANY OF YOU ARE BORN IN SPRING/SUMMER? I sure am so this seems like an interesting find to me! I found the original article on my local newpapers website, however they deny access to non residents. This study is the first to show a link between increased celiac disease diagnosis for those who begin to eat gluten during cold and flu season, aka those who are born in spring/summer since we start eating solid food in the fall/winter. It suggests that we may want to hold off on feeding our spring/summer babies gluten until their fall/winter counterparts begin to eat it, that is the next spring. I would love to see what the reasonings may be behind this finding. Of course though, at the study states, it is important to remember that this is a first finding which has found a link, not a causation, between time of first gluten intake and celiac disease. Future research will need to be done to see what results are obtained and I’ll be keeping my eyes out for that!

More evidence that screenings of at risk populations is justified

Here is another study which shows that even screenings of those at risk of CD when they are asymptomatic can lead to a diagnosis and improved health outcomes. This is something we all know, but something that seems hard for the health system in the United States to understand. Now if only we could get them to realize the importance of screenings in all populations.