Gluten Free Winston-Salem: October 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Is the prevalence of refractory celiac disease on the rise?

Christopher Hammerle, MD, and Sheila Crowe, MD, from the University of Virginia of Charlottesville, gave a presentation of their recent findings on a retrospective analysis of refractory celiac disease at the 75th Annual American College of Gastroenterology meeting in San Antonio. Results of the study, reported in Medpage Today, suggest that an increasing number of celiac patients may no longer be responding to a gluten-free diet. In the study, 17 gluten-free diet nonresponsive (refractive) patients were identified among the celiac patients treated at the University of Virginia Medical Center during the last 10 years. Interestingly, among the 17 refractive patients, 16 were diagnosed within the last 5 years, with 41% diagnosed within the last 6 months. Additionally, 5 had concomitant autoimmune disease and the average time to diagnosis of refractive disease was 4.7 years after the initial diagnosis of celiac disease. For each patient, noncompliance with the gluten-free diet was eliminated as the cause of refractive disease. The findings of this limited single-site study suggest that the incidence of refractory celiac disease is increasing. However, accidental ingestion from contaminated gluten-free grains or other products cannot be entirely ruled out.

Primary source: American College of Gastroenterology
Source reference:
Hammerle C, Crowe S "Natural history and treatment of refractory celiac disease: Experience with 17 patients at a single center" ACG 2010; Abstract 235.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

High Point Gluten Free Support Group Workshop

Presents

Diagnosis to Treatment: Eating Gluten Free

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010

Place: High Point Country Club

Time: 11:00 AM vendor displays, optional

12:00 Gluten Free Meal

1:00 Presentation by Speaker

2:00-3:00 PM vendor displays, optional

Fee for attendance includes meal: $21.00 per person

Gluten Free Chicken Entrée

Choice of

Fancy Sweet Potatoes or Herbed Corn

Green Beans or Special Squash Medley

Grateful Bread Specialty Bread

Assorted Gluten Free Desserts

Beverage Choices

Registration Form with check needs to be received before 11/13/2010 to be eligible to attend the workshop!!

REGISTRATION FORM

Name:_______________________________

Address:_____________________________

Phone:_______________________________

Email:_______________________________

Address check to Gluten Free Support Group of High Point or GFSGHP

Mail to : Joel Rosenquist

2464 Motsinger Farm Lane

Kernersville, NC 27284

Monday, October 18, 2010

Gluten-free options at Breakfast of Course (Mary's Too!)

Breakfast of Course! has a selection of gluten-free items on the menu, including breads and desserts.

Breakfast of Course (Mary's Too!)
723 Trade Street
Winston-Salem, NC, 27101

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Gluten free pizza at Mellow Mushroom in WS!

Mellow Mushroom of Winston Salem

314 West 4th Street
336-245-2820

Saturday, October 16, 2010

NC Piedmont Triad GIG Holiday Potluck on Nov. 13, 2010

November 13, Dr. Ivor Hill, MD; Wake Forest School of Medicine, and Kathleen Sigler, RD; Novant Health and Diabetes Center, will speak on the topic, “Pancreas and Celiac Disease.” Dr. Hill keeps abreast of ongoing research on celiac disease. Kathleen Sigler is on the gluten-free diet and speaks from personal experience having celiac disease and diabetes. Both can assist us in knowing how to ask our physician about concerns on the health of our pancreas and the gluten-free diet.

We will meet at 10:30 AM at Hope Moravian Church, 2759 Hope Church Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27127, to set up our Healthy Choice, Delicious, Gluten-Free Holiday Potluck. NCPTGIG will provide ham & turkey. The program will begin at 11 AM. Bring 12 copies of your recipe and place beside your dish. Listing brand names is a big help for someone learning the gluten-free diet.

Please RSVP. Contact: Grace Johnston

Directions to Hope Moravian Church: 2759 Hope Church Road

From Kernersville/Greensboro: Take I-40 Bypass and exit onto Stratford Road in Winston Salem (158W). Take a right turn at the exit and continue straight on 158. At the 6^th stoplight you will take a left on W. Clemmonsville Road. Just as you turn and cross the railroad tracks take an immediate right turn onto Hope Church Road. The church is on the left. From the time you leave the interstate until you get to the church it is approximately 3 miles.

From Mocksville: Take I-40 E to exit 184 Lewisville Clemmons Road. Turn right at the exit and go to the 3^rd light and turn left onto US 158E. Continue on 158 and at the 4^th light turn right onto W. Clemmonsville Road. As you cross the railroad tracks take another immediate right onto Hope Church Road. It is approximately 5 miles.

From Winston Salem: Take Stratford Road which turns into US 158 W toward Clemmons. You will pass the Sheets gas station on the right as you go out 158. After going under the light at Sheets go to the next light and turn left on W. Clemmonsville Road. After turning and crossing the railroad tracks, take an immediate right onto Hope Church Road. The church is on the left.

Bonjour Winston Salem!

I'm a recent transplant to Winston Salem after living the last 7 years in New Orleans. I am a semi-retired scientist with a background in pathology and infectious disease who is making the transition to a new career in sustainable agriculture. Since my diagnosis of Celiac Sprue in late 2008, I've been on a quest for some semblance of a normal life, as many of you can probably relate. While the cuisine in NOLA was exceptional, gluten-free options were a challenge. Since moving to this area, I am pleasantly surprised by the abundance of gluten-free products in the local stores, as well as gluten-free friendly restaurants. I hope to share my discoveries and information, as well as those from the local Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) and others, with the readers of Gluten Free Winston Salem. Let's pool our resources to make a difference!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Winston-Salem, NC Bloggers Needed

Live in Winston-Salem, NC?

Live the Gluten Free Lifestyle?

Interested in helping others in your city?

If you have any questions or interest writing about Winston-Salem please email me.

Celiac Disease by the Numbers

1 out of every 133 Americans (about 3 million people) has CD.
97% of Americans estimated to have CD are not diagnosed.
CD has over 300 known symptoms although some people experience none.
Age of diagnosis is key: If you are diagnosed between age 2-4, your chance of getting an additional autoimmune disorder is 10.5%. Over the age of 20, that rockets up to 34%.
30% of the US population is estimated to have the genes necessary for CD.
2.5 babies are born every minute in the USA with the genetic makeup to have CD.
There are 15 states in the US with populations less than the total number of Celiacs in the US.
CD affects more people in the US than Crohn’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease combined.
500,000 new Celiac diagnoses are expected to occur in the US by 2012 -- thanks to efforts to raise public awareness of the disease.
People with CD dine out 80% less than they used to before diagnosis and believe less than 10% of eating establishments have a 'very good' or 'good' understanding of GF diets.
It takes an average of 11 years for patients to be properly diagnosed with CD even though a simple blood test exists.
The average cost of misdiagnosis is $5,000 - $12,000 per person per year. Improving the time to diagnosis could save the health care system millions of dollars annually in unnecessary medical care.
A recent study by Packaged Facts projects that the sales of GF food will reach $2.63 Billion by 2012.
GF foods are, on average, 242% more expensive then their non-GF counterparts.
The smallest amount of gluten which has been shown by a biopsy to cause damage to a Celiac is 0.1 gram per day - or 1/48th of a slice of bread.
The Food Allergen Labeling & Consumer Protection Act became law in 2006 allowing for easier reading of food labels for those with CD. What took so long?
12% of people in the US who have Down Syndrome also have CD.
6% of people in the US who have Type 1 Diabetes also have CD.
Among people who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with celiac, as many as 1 in 22 people may have the disease.
There are currently 0 drugs available to treat CD.