Gluten-Free, Not Worry-Free

Celiac Disease (or Sprue) is no laughing matter. It's miserable for the person that has to live with it. I should know; I'm one of them, and also type 2 diabetic. The disease is at its worst when gluten is present in the body. The gluten eats away at the lining of the small intestine and makes life unbearable for those who have it, including myself. My mother also has it, but it's not nearly as intense as mine is.

According to CBS The Early Show, "celiac disease is genetic. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, one in 133 Americans suffer from celiac disease...It is strongly suggested that family members of a diagnosed celiac be tested, even if asymptomatic. Family members who have an autoimmune disease are at a 25 percent increased risk of having celiac disease. Celiac Disease is not a food allergy -- it is an autoimmune disease. Food allergies, including wheat allergy, are conditions that people can grow out of. This is not the case with celiac disease."
My celiac surfaced about five years ago, around the same time that I was diagnosed as diabetic. I sometimes wonder if my diabetes would ever have been found if not for my celiac. I was a truck driver then, living daily with digestive problems, constipation, debilitating cramps...but I thought they were just because of the horrible lifestyle that a truck driver lives. I didn't think anything of it until the cramps started getting worse. I would lay in bed for days waiting for a bowel movement. I couldn't focus on my job either. I was tired all the time, stopping a couple times an hour to use the restroom (by the way, not an easy task on long stretches of highway, such as Texas), moody, nauseous...the list goes on. I was finally forced off the road by my husband. We were driving together at the time. He told me that if I didn't stay at home and take care of myself, he would leave without me anyway

So, I went to see my doctor, and that's when she told me I was diabetic. Oh, I did the usual Diabetes classes and sticking to a diet (when we could afford it) and taking the medication. For a while it seemed to help, and I'm sure it did. But it slowly started creeping back up on me about a year ago. The nausea, strange bowel habits, occasional cramps that make me want to stay in bed...yep, they're back. I did some research on my symptoms and what I found was informative and depressing.

Celiac is an autoimmune disease that destroys the lining of the small intestine. It becomes unable to process food properly, absorb nutrients and vitamins, or complete the digestive process in some cases. The individual symptoms vary, but they are all miserable and embarrassing. The digestive symptoms may include: Abdominal pain, gas, bloating, swelling, irregular bowel movements such as diarrhea or constipation, bloody or fatty stool, lactose intolerance, change in appetite, and even unexplained weight loss or weight gain. Other symptoms that may occur (due to toxins in the body mostly) include: anemia, bone or joint pain, acne, bruising easily, depression, fatigue, nose bleeds, muscle cramps, vitamin or mineral deficiency, malnutrition, swelling of extremities (arms, legs, feet, hands--really bad when I eat bread), and in some extreme cases it may even cause hypoglycemia or seizures. It has also been linked to growth stunting in children (nutrition deficiency).

The best way to keep these ugly symptoms from taking over your daily life is to eat a gluten-free diet. This isn't always possible because gluten is found in nearly everything these days, but there are some alternatives that you can use in home cooking to keep your tummy in working order. My diet mostly consists of things made with rice, spelt flour (do NOT overindulge in this; it has the same effect that oatmeal does), and soy. I try not to eat too much dairy, as that also plays a huge part in my bowel issues. Foods like ice cream, most cereals, pizza, packaged meats, snack cakes and canned meals such as spaghetti and stews should be avoided. The sodium alone will make you swell like a water balloon.

If you suspect that you may have celiac disease, please see your doctor as soon as possible to confirm or rule out the possibility. You will be much better off knowing how to take care of your body. Stick to the food guidelines, as well. You'll feel ten times better at the end of the day. Good luck, and good health to you.