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I read this article and did not appreciate the slant, so I sent a reply.
"Mr. Engber,
Though your article seems to have been well researched, as a "Full Blown,
biopsy diagnosed person with Celiac Disease", I have to take offense at some
of your slant in the article. What you did not mention is that in order to
appropriately diagnose this condition, the patient must remain on a Gluten
laden diet for up to a month. I can say with a great deal of certainty that
if I were to do that, I might not die, but could almost guarantee that I
would have to be hospitalized during that time. I can't imagine anyone
willing to go through a Gluten challenge if the GF diet is working for them.
If I had not had a positive biopsy 25 years ago, there is no way I would do
that now.
I think you perhaps do not understand the severity of these reactions. If
you have ever had a Salmonella or Campylobacter infection, perhaps you
would. Why would anyone subject themselves to this knowing what it would
do? The symptoms of Celiac Disease range is severity from tiredness to
malnutrition to Osteoporosis, as you stated. The long term ramifications of
living with the disease while untreated can be devastating, and you stated
that as well. However, given that this a disease for which we must test
while the patient is currently being exposed to the problem: gluten, there
are those for whom this would be intolerable.
Are those people who think this is a fad and want the attention a GF
lifestyle brings them and are on the diet unnecessarily? My opinion is yes.
However, one must consider the ones for whom a gluten challenge could also
challenge their health and the concomitant reluctance to do so. We must
also consider how under diagnosed this disease tends to be. In Europe
(specifically Italy and Ireland), the prevalence is 2-3% of the population.
Most of USA citizens carry some of those phenotypes. I think your ballpark
figure of 0.75% prevalence in the US is too low. The latest stats I have
read are 1-2%. And yes that is significant.
This diet is no picnic. I hate it, but I do it. I have several friends and
relatives with the disease, and I could discuss its origin and genetics with
you at length. However, most do not want to hear this.
The problems with Celiac are that is not easy to diagnose, and impossible
without a Gluten challenge and while I do agree that there are those that
perhaps want to jump on the GF bandwagon (why I do not understand), there
are many that will never get an official diagnosis for the reasons I
described. I ask that you entertain the concept of tolerance for those who
are not willing to jump through the hoops to get that all important
diagnosis, and just give a smile to those who might not need the diet but do
it anyway.
Best regards,
Moira Sheehan
BS - Microbiology, University of Maryland
MAS - Management, The Johns Hopkins University
Studies in Computer Science, University of Colorado"
-----Original Message-----
From: Celiac/Coeliac Wheat/Gluten-Free List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott Adams
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 9:39 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Horrible Slate Article
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Sender: Celiac/Coeliac Wheat/Gluten-Free List
<[log in to unmask]>
Poster: Scott Adams <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Horrible Slate Article
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situation.>>
Hello Everyone,
There was a horrible article published by Slate, and we need to let them=
know:
http://www.slate.com/id/2223745/?from=3Drss
Title: Throwing Out the Wheat - Are we being too=20
tolerant of gluten-intolerance?
Take care,
Scott
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