Today is National Celiac Disease Awareness Day

Thank You Senator Inhofe and Senator Nelson for introducing the Resolution. Thanks to the Senate for Passing this Resolution to benefit awareness.
US Senate Resolution 605, 111TH Congressional Sesssion; August 3, 2010


Participate in Celiac Awareness and to increase awareness of celiac disease worldwide. Here are some suggestions from the Celiac Sprue Association. As you know, this was the first organization of its kind when I was first diagnosed in the 1980s and was a huge resource to myself and my family.

Activities occur NATIONALLY:

• The CSA National Office Coordinates the Annual CSA Conference and the Annual CSA Dietitian Day
• National membership support with members around the world
• Toll-free phone support to patients, families, health, media, food industry US and Canada
• Distributes information packets on celiac disease in all 50 state
• Shares a basic set of materials on celiac disease with 600 libraries
• Shares information about CSA with hospital dietetic departmentsand schools
• Provides dietitian and physician packets at no charge, upon request
• Sponsors the CSA - Physician Education Program CSA-PEP
• Fundraising

LOCALLY:

• CSA chapters promote celiac disease awareness:
• Gather those interested in celiac disease into CSA Resource Units and CSA Chapters for mutual support and awareness
• Providing CSA-prepared press releases to local media
• Placing human-interest stories in area newspapers
• Giving radio and television interviews
• Co-sponsoring activities with state dietetic associations
• Setting up physician/patient interviews on talk shows or radio
• Donating materials to health agency files and to libraries
• Educating chefs and restaurant staff about the gluten-free diet
• Co-sponsoring displays with area hospitals and shopping malls
• Participating in health fairs
• Encourage companies to participate in the CSA Recognition Seal Program

INDIVIDUALLY:

• Join CSA or give a gift membership
• Share something positive about the disease and the diet with friends and neighbors.
• Meet with the manager of your local grocery store about the importance of the availability of gluten-free options.
• Visit with clergy regarding the strict gluten-free diet, communion and church pot lucks.
• Present a program to an organization about celiac disease and how it is handled, both at home and away.
• Request CSA brochures sent to doctors and dietitians in your area.
• Buy a CSA membership for a family member, health care professional or your local library, guaranteeing that CSA's quarterly newsletter, Lifeline, is available to others.
• Encourage local chapter members to join the national CSA organization.
• Contact the CSA office with your ideas and successes. CSA is continually looking for more ways to help the celiac community.
• Donate time, money and skills
• Encourage companies to participate in the CSA Recognition Seal Program

September 13, 2007: National Celiac Awareness Day

On Monday September 10, 2007, for the second year in a row the US Senate designated September 13, 2007 as National Celiac Disease Awareness Day. Please hug your fellow Celiac and continue to spread the word so every September 13 is National Celiac Awareness Day. I also encourage you to contact Senator Ben Nelson (Nebraska) and Senator Jim Inhofe (Oklahoma) to thank them for their effort behind S.Res.314.
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From Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson's website:

NELSON-INHOFE RESOLUTION DESIGNATES "NATIONAL CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS DAY

September 11, 2007 – Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson and Oklahoma’s Senator Jim Inhofe today praised the unanimous passage of their resolution (S.Res.314) designating September 13, 2007 “National Celiac Disease Awareness Day”.

“Due to the fact that this disease is often misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed, the need for awareness is critically important,” said Senator Ben Nelson. “Accurate information and outreach efforts are needed to ensure the continued health of people afflicted with celiac disease. This resolution is one step in helping Americans learn more about this common disease.”

“Celiac disease hits very close to home for me as I have a staffer with the disease and an Oklahoma Celiac Support Group working to promote awareness in my great state,” Senator Inhofe said. “There are many groups and organizations working to promote celiac disease, and we applaud all their efforts. Awareness can go a long way toward diagnosing and treating the millions of sufferers of celiac disease both in my home state of Oklahoma and across the nation.”

Celiac disease creates intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, as well as some medicines and vitamins. Despite the fact that one in 130 healthy people have celiac disease, and the fact that it is easily detectable, the symptoms are often attributed to other conditions as many doctors lack sufficient knowledge about the disease.

Failure to properly diagnose celiac disease can lead to damage to the small intestine and malnutrition. The good news is that the treatment (following a gluten-free diet) for celiac disease is highly effective. In most sufferers, the small intestines heal completely.

“An estimated two million Americans have celiac disease, of which only 5% are currently diagnosed,” said Mary Schluckebier, Executive Director of the Nebraska-based Celiac Sprue Association. “We thank and commend Senators Nelson and Inhofe for their understanding of the importance of the health and wellness of the American citizen as reflected in their latest accomplishment to increase the awareness of celiac disease.”
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From the Library of Congress Congressional Library

SENATE RESOLUTION 314--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 13, 2007, AS ``NAIONAL CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS DAY'' -- (Senate - September 10, 2007)

[Page: S11331]

Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. Nelson of Nebraska) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. Res. 314

Whereas celiac disease affects approximately 1 in every 130 people in the United States, for a total of 3,000,000 people;

Whereas the majority of people with celiac disease have yet to be diagnosed;

Whereas celiac disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder that is classified as both an autoimmune condition and a genetic condition;

Whereas celiac disease causes damage to the lining of the small intestine, which results in overall malnutrition;

Whereas, when a person with celiac disease consumes foods that contain certain protein fractions, that person suffers a cell-mediated immune response that damages the villi of the small intestine, interfering with the absorption of nutrients in food and the effectiveness of medications;

Whereas these problematic protein fractions are found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats, which are used to produce many foods, medications, and vitamins;

Whereas because celiac disease is a genetic disease, there is an increased incidence of celiac disease in families with a known history of celiac disease;

Whereas celiac disease is underdiagnosed because the symptoms can be attributed to other conditions and are easily overlooked by doctors and patients;

Whereas, as recently as 2000, the average person with celiac disease waited 11 years for a correct diagnosis;

Whereas 1/2 of all people with celiac disease do not show symptoms of the disease;

Whereas celiac disease is diagnosed by tests that measure the blood for abnormally high levels of the antibodies of immunoglobulin A, anti-tissue transglutaminase, and IgA anti-endomysium antibodies;

Whereas celiac disease can only be treated by implementing a diet free of wheat, barley, rye, and oats, often called a ``gluten-free diet'';

Whereas a delay in the diagnosis of celiac disease can result in damage to the small intestine, which leads to an increased risk for malnutrition, anemia, lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, osteoporosis, miscarriage, congenital malformation, short stature, and disorders of skin and other organs;

Whereas celiac disease is linked to many autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, liver disease, collagen vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren's syndrome;

Whereas the connection between celiac disease and diet was first established by Dr. Samuel Gee, who wrote, ``if the patient can be cured at all, it must be by means of diet'';

Whereas Dr. Samuel Gee was born on September 13, 1839; and

Whereas the Senate is an institution that can raise awareness in the general public and the medical community of celiac disease: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates September 13, 2007, as ``National Celiac Disease Awareness Day'';

(2) recognizes that all people of the United States should become more informed and aware of celiac disease;

(3) calls upon the people of the United States to observe the date with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and

(4) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Celiac Sprue Association, the American Celiac Society, the Celiac Disease Foundation, the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, and the Oklahoma Celiac Support Group No. 5 of the Celiac Sprue Association.