This picture has nothing to do with the post except for the dietitian part:
Interesting information that I’m not writing about in my honours lit review:
“The National Institutes of Health (NIH) held a landmark consensus conference in June 2004, culminating in concise guidelines regarding the diagnosis and management of CD, as well as recommendations for future research. According to the consensus conference statement, the six key elements in the management of CD are:
- consultation with a skilled dietitian,
- education about the disease,
- lifelong adherence to the gluten-free diet,
- identification and treatment of nutritional deficiencies,
- access to a support group, and
- continuous long-term follow-up by a multidisciplinary team.
In my experience, although there may not be a shortage of “skilled” dietitians, there is a severe shortage of dietitians adequately educated on celiac disease (where I live). This summer I was on the phone to my dietitian for over half an hour explaining that when I eat gluten, it’s very difficult for me to eat anything, period - my intestines swell up upon contact with food, and it’s very painful. She didn’t listen to a word I said, and told me that I was “verging on an eating disorder.” Had she had better experience dealing people with CD, she likely would have navigated the conversation better. As it was, I hung up the phone disgruntled. Consultation on the gluten free diet may be important, though, even if it is just for the transfer of nutrition charts from professional to patient. It’s a hard diet to learn, and good help goes a long way.
Also, under the “Common Concerns about Following a Gluten-Free Diet” section:
“Patients can reduce the shopping bill by purchasing longer-lasting produce (e.g. root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and parsnips) and seasonal produce; using beans, split peas and lentils; baking their own breads and baked goods; buying foods in large quantities with friends or support group members; and cooking from basic ingredients.”
Hello, New York Times!
Both quotes from: Dennis, M.D., Kelly, C.P., Schuppan, D.. 2005. Celiac disease: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and nutritional management. Nutrition in Clinical Care, 8: 2, 54-69.
