The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a campaign to heighten awareness of celiac disease among health care professionals and the public.  The campaign website provides access to educational materials and services, current NIH research about celiac disease, and additional campaign information and resources, including an e-newsletter.

Celiac Disease

"Celiac-sprue, also known as gluten intolerance, is an autoimmune disorder which was once thought to be an extremely rare condition. In recent years, thanks in large part to new screening methods, researchers have found that as many as many 1 every 100 in the US may suffer from this condition. Unfortunately, relatively few of those afflicted are ever diagnosed.

The condition is treated solely by removing ALL source of gluten, a protein found specificially in heat, rye, barley, & oats (through contamination w/ the other grains). While the symptoms of the intensely itchy skin form of celiac disease, Dermatitis Herpetformis, are often managed with medications, only dietary treatment removes the underlying cause of the problem. Untreated, the condition causes a variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms and lead to irreversible complication, such as osteoporosis, the development of secondary autoimmune disorders, and even malignancies. With prompt diagnosis and a lifelong change of diet, the majority of those with celiac are able to reclaim their health."

Resources for dietitians and dietetic technicians...

Going Gluten-Free: A Primer for Clinicians - article in Practical Gastroenterology from the April 2004 Issue Online

Interesting Article on the failure of the medical profession to diagnose Celiac in the US
Illness of the intestines gets late notice in U.S. Friday, December 09, 2005
By David P. Hamilton, The Wall Street Journal

Upcoming Celiac Conferences

Celiac Support Groups

"While a dietitian or dietetic technician may be able to tell a celiac what not to eat, identifying safe products is not as simple--Products change frequently, contamination is an issue, and it only takes a trace of hidden gluten to cause problems. Support groups are able to fill this gap and are happy to help newly diagnosed celiac find the resources in their area necessary to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle."

	GIG® (Gluten Intolerance Group) 31214 – 124 Ave Seauburn WA 98092 Phone 206.246.6652 Fax 206.246.6531 www.gluten.net		CSA/USA, Inc. P.O. Box 31700, Omaha, NE 68131-700 phone: 402-558-0600, fax: 402-558-1347 www.csaceliacs.org		Reliable online information on celiac and the gluten-free diet www.celiac.com
	To sign up for the online support group if a local one is not nearby... http://www.listserv.icors.org/		Online commercial food lists of gluten free products.		www.gfcfdiet.com This site is for parents of children with Asperberger's autism who are being treated with milk-free AND gluten-free diets. It is also helpful for celiacs who have intolerance to milk products.
	Antigo Lynn Jiter, Chairperson 214 Lincoln St. Antigo, WI 54409 715-623-7254 lynnmariej@hotmail.com		Green Bay Celiac Support Group Mary Muller, Chairperson 2636 Beaumont St. Green Bay, WI 54301 cmueller6@new.rr.com Tel: 920-435-4861		Marshfield Bertha Steinager P.O. Box 102 140 Russell Road Unity, WI 54488 Tel: 715-223-2075
	Beloit area- Closest is in Rockford, IL. Ron Ford--815-229-8804, or Jolyn Fasula--815-877-5302		Janesville Lisa McDade 608-758-9979 lmmcdade@charter.net		North Central Bertha Steinwagner--715-223-2075 P.O. Box 102, Unity, WI 54428
	Fox Valley Celiacs Mackenzie Prast, Chairperson 372 Nassau St. Menasha, WI 54952 kenz23@yahoo.com Tel; 920-888-0544		La Crosse Mary Lou Balts 2601 Losey Blvd. S. La Crosse, WI 54601 baltskml@centurytel.net Tel: 608-788-7398		Milwaukee Celiac-Sprue Crew (since 1982) Serving celiacs in Metro Milwaukee and SE Wisconsin, including small group meetings in Kenosha, New Berlin, Pewaukee, & Cedarburg/West Bend, plus a resource person in Sheboygan. Bev Lieven 8069 Sherman Rd. Brown Deer, WI 53209 e: milcs@aol.com tel: 414-354-2354
	Green Bay FOX VALLEY CELIACS William E. Morris, CSA Region 1 Director 1369 Graystone Ct. DePere, WI 54115 hbmorris@att.net Tel: 920-337-9235		Madison (MAGIC) Kathleen Borner 608-839-3540 KBorner@aol.com OR Bob & Penny Coffin, 3827 Monona Dr. #45, Madison, WI 53714 vonsarg@aol.com

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