22-05-2025
Celiac disease awareness: How to manage gluten-free living
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – May is Celiac Awareness Month, which is prompting conversations about celiac disease, its symptoms, and the challenges faced by those living with the condition.
Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder and affects about one in 100 people worldwide, but many remain undiagnosed.
It involves gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. If ingested, it can cause symptoms that often lead to damage in the small intestine.
'It can form in childhood. It can form in adulthood and shows up in various ways in everyone, too. Not everyone has the exact same symptoms, so sometimes, it's a little difficult to diagnose because it's masked by something else and you don't always think to check for celiac,' said Jennifer Haberbusch, who serves as director of clinical nutrition for Rochester Regional Health.
Not only does Haberbusch specialize in the topic, but her young daughter also has celiac disease.
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'The only treatment there is for celiac is to eliminate gluten completely from the diet. My daughter has celiac disease and the rest of us do not. We've all been tested because there's a one in 10 chance if you have somebody in your family that has celiac that you also will. We do still have gluten in our house, but we're extremely careful about cross contamination and I would say the majority of our meals now are completely gluten-free,' said Haberbusch.
The most common symptoms of celiac disease are gastrointestinal-related, and even though it varies from person to person, some cases can be asymptomatic which makes it difficult to diagnose.
Being mindful of what you're eating and where, she says, can make the disease much easier to manage.
'It is difficult to go to a restaurant and eat out. I think more restaurants have become conscious of gluten-free needs and the desire from the public, but there still is that risk of cross contamination. It is up to that person. Do you want to take that risk where even the pizza places that have gluten-free options now – there could be some cross contamination of the flour kind of dusted over to the other counter. Even if they're taking every precaution,' said Haberbusch.
A diagnosis of celiac disease will require a blood test from your primary care physician and ultimately, an endoscopy. More information on resources and supports surrounding celiac disease can be found here.
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