A Thought About Coeliac Disease
After reading yet again, about a coeliac in hospital, where they really weren’t too professional about what he could eat, I’ve had this thought.
Is coeliac disease the most common disease, that can be cured by diet alone?
To take this further, am I right to think, that this fact gets up the average medic’s craw, as it means the disease can’t be cured by the two most common treatment methods; drugs or surgery?
The Anonymous Widower 
There’s (currently) no money in it for the drug companies, so there’s little interest. I’ve read about a medication in the works that would allow folks with gluten issues (I think even full-blown celiac, but I’m not sure) to consume gluten. It’s interesting – years ago, I would have jumped at the chance. Now, between all of the GF offerings and my hesitancy to take a pill just because of a craving, I think I’ll pass. It will be interesting to see what happens to the diagnosis rate if there is a dollar value associated with it.
Comment by stilllearning2b | September 18, 2012 |
I would never take a drug with that purpose. I think there’s a big difference between food companies in Europe to the other side of the pond, where many go out of their way to make sure their products are gluten-free. I found in North America that some products are GF in the UK and not in North America. The exceptions are fast food joints, where I never eat. I suspect someone like KFC is backing this drug development.
I do think though, that a gluten-free diet is very good for you. Have you read dogtorj.com? He’s an American vet, who just happens to be coeliac.
Comment by AnonW | September 18, 2012 |
I haven’t. I’ll check it out – thanks! The GF situation in the US is improving, but you guys definitely have us beat! I’ve been researching for an upcoming trip to Italy and it seems as though I’ll have an easier time avoiding gluten than I will avoiding meat (I’m a vegetarian). That’s the opposite of the way it is here.
Comment by stilllearning2b | September 18, 2012
I’ve never had a problem in Italy and even many small family restaurants have gluten-free pasta. In Naples and I suspect other places too, you can get gluten-free pizza. Just make sure you can pronounce celiachai, which is Italian for coeliac.
Comment by AnonW | September 18, 2012 |