Celiac Disease

Coping with celiac disease

Living with celiac disease can be a huge challenge that requires both emotional and physical adjustments. It is not wrong if you feel overwhelmed since you or one of your near relative has recently been diagnosed with celiac disease. Lots of individuals, organizations, and resources -- including all of us at celiacdiseaseindia.com! -- are available for help you learn to do well and thrive. Over a period, however, managing your disease will become second nature. In the meantime, these suggestions may help you cope with celiac disease:

•  Be well informed about celiac disease.  This is the first step towards accepting the challenge. Being informed about your condition would help you take better charge of it. Gather information about the disease by talking to your doctor, read books and pamphlets, look for information on the internet.
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•  Join a celiac support group.  Meeting others with celiac disease offers the opportunity to benefit from the collective experiences of all the members. It helps provide a safe and welcoming environment, filled with compassion and understanding. For example, you might be able to exchange information about celiac-friendly local restaurants, easy meals to prepare, and which local stores have the best selection of gluten-free foods and the best prices. Sharing experiences and making supportive new friends can make you feel better about life in general. Seeing how others handle such challenges might give you renewed hope . Another option is to join online support groups and participate in online discussion forums. Teenagers with celiac disease might want to join one of the many celiac groups on Facebook.
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•  Don't hesitate to seek advice.  Having a gluten intolerance means still taking pride in your body. If you're having difficulty coming up with suitable menus, talk to a registered dietitian. A dietitian has extensive knowledge of the nutritional aspects of food and what you can and can't eat. He or she can help you think in more creative ways about your favorite foods. "Be prepared", it is important to be prepared and think ahead. Keep gluten-free snacks on hand at all times, because you never know when you are going to get hungry somewhere that doesn't offer gluten-free food. Keep shelf-stable snacks in your car, office, purse, and anywhere you spend time. It is better to have gluten-free snacks on hand, then to get hungry and make a bad decision to eat something you might later regret.