Celiac Disease Awareness Month: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about Celiac Disease Awareness Month (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. Celiac Disease Awareness Month is celebrated on May 1st.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of Celiac Disease Awareness Month, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as intriguing facts you should know about Celiac Disease Awareness Month.

📅 What day is Celiac Disease Awareness Month 2024?

In 2024, Celiac Disease Awareness Month is on Monday, May 1st. It is the 1st Monday in May; in 2024, it is Wednesday. There are until the next observance. You also can explore all the fun details and facts about May 1, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Celiac Disease Awareness Month, which takes place every May, aims to educate the public about the autoimmune disease known as celiac disease. When someone with this condition consumes gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, their immune system reacts by attacking their small intestine and preventing the absorption of essential nutrients. The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center explains that since there is no cure, individuals with celiac disease must adhere to a strict gluten-free diet. Failing to be diagnosed and treated can lead to complications like infertility and osteoporosis, making it crucial to spread awareness and understanding about this condition.

📜 Celiac Disease Awareness Month History

In 1887, Dr. Samuel Gee provided the first modern definition of celiac disease in a talk at the Hospital for Sick Children in London. However, at that time, researchers did not know what in the diet was causing the severe stomach problems associated with the disease. In 1908, Dr. Christian Herter observed that the body tolerated fat better than carbohydrates in celiac disease patients. In the 1920s, Dr. Sidney Haas experimented with dietary changes for celiac disease, promoting the “banana diet” as a potential cure. However, his inference that carbohydrates were the cause was inaccurate. It was not until the Dutch famine in the 1940s that Dr. Willem Dicke recognized the link between carbohydrates and celiac disease. In 1952, English researchers discovered that gluten specifically caused celiac disease. More characteristics of celiac disease were identified in the 1960s, and it was officially recognized as an autoimmune disorder in the 1990s after extensive research on genetics and autoimmunity. Currently, there is no cure for celiac disease, and those who are diagnosed with it must follow a gluten-free diet. Celiac Disease Awareness Month aims to raise funds for research towards finding a cure.

✅ Celiac Disease Awareness Month Facts

🔖 Frequently Misdiagnosed
According to estimates, a significant majority (around 83%) of individuals with celiac disease remain undiagnosed or are mistakenly diagnosed with another condition.

🔖 Gluten-Free Growing
Sales of gluten-free food reached over $4.5 billion in 2017 and are expected to continue growing due to the increasing awareness and screening of celiac disease.

🔖 In the Family
Between 5 and 22 percent of individuals diagnosed with celiac disease have a family member who is also affected by the condition.

👍 Why Is Celiac Disease Awareness Month Important

Another excellent way to commemorate this month? If you suspect you could have celiac disease, get screened. You may also use BeyondCeliac.org’s self-screening checklist to screen yourself. Celiac disease may have serious consequences if left untreated, and it is believed that 97% of celiac cases in the United States go misdiagnosed. If you were searching for a reason to get screened, this is it—better to be safe than sorry.

Celiac disease affects 1% of Americans, which may not seem like a lot until you consider that this equates to over 3 million people. Use Celiac Disease Awareness Month to learn more about this common condition.

There is now no treatment for celiac disease, and individuals who suffer from it must be extremely cautious about what they eat and acutely aware of any symptoms that arise. Celiac Condition Awareness Month’s fund-raising initiatives and individual contributions are critical to financing research that will eliminate this disease.

🙂 How To Observe Celiac Disease Awareness Month

⚡ Share your Celiac story
If you have celiac disease, it would be beneficial to share your personal experience this month. This illness is surrounded by various misconceptions and a lack of understanding, resulting in many undiagnosed cases. By sharing your story, you can contribute to raising awareness and promoting better treatment for those affected by celiac disease.

⚡ Donate to Celiac Disease Research
Celiac Disease Awareness Month has a key goal of generating financial support for finding a cure. While increasing awareness is important, raising funds is a more impactful approach to make a lasting change. Each year, approximately $1.45 billion is contributed towards celiac disease research, and you can contribute by donating to organizations like Beyond Celiac and the Celiac Disease Foundation.

⚡ Spread awareness online
You have the opportunity to spread awareness about celiac disease through various platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and an online blog. It is important to take into account the size of your network and understand that even a simple post or sharing information about celiac disease can have a significant impact in raising awareness.

📅 When is Celiac Disease Awareness Month?

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