<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Did you have a chance to read the Congressional Resolution declaring 
September 13th as National Celiac Disease Awareness Day in honor of Dr. 
Samuel Gee’s birthday?  This is the fourth consecutive year of such 
Congressional recognition and the resolution keeps getting better.  
This year, as shown below, consists of 15 short “Whereas” clauses that 
can serve any celiac as simple, straight forward responses to common 
questions.

Tom Sullivan


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 such 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 
incr
eased 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 be treated only 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 erythermatosus, 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 by by means of diet’

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