A Nurse’s Story of Celiac Disease from 1953 EP074
Gluten Free RN
What did we know about celiac disease in 1953? The truth is, we knew quite a bit about sensitivity to gluten 65 years ago when Matilda Babbitz’s son Bobby was diagnosed with celiac disease. A nurse by profession, Matilda carefully observed her baby and kept detailed records of his reactions to foods, working with doctors to determine an appropriate diet for Bobby. Today, the Gluten Free RN is sharing an written by Matilda herself. She covers how Bobby presented with celiac disease at six months of age and the dramatic change in his health and behavior after a diet change. Nadine discusses...
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Musings & Truths From the Gluten Free RN EP073
Gluten Free RN
‘Know your own truth and let that guide you.’ How do you cut through the noise and misinformation around gluten sensitivity and celiac disease in order to make the best choices for your health and happiness? By tapping into your intuition and asking WHY when the answers don’t feel right—and reaching out to the right people for support when you need it. Today, the Gluten Free RN is sharing her Top 10 Musings and Truths for health and wellbeing, empowering you to be self-protective and surround yourself with the people who genuinely care enough to speak up for—and with you. She shares...
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African Americans & Celiac Disease EP072
Gluten Free RN
Much existing propaganda claims that African Americans do not suffer from celiac disease. Even the Gluten Free RN was surprised to find out that her adopted daughter had a genetic predisposition to the disease back in 2006, as research available at the time regarded the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes to be primarily Caucasian traits. And until we take steps to conduct a mass screening, we simply don’t know how common celiac disease is among people of African descent. Today, the Gluten Free RN is exploring celiac disease in the African American population. She covers a 2006 study out of Columbia...
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Celiac Disease & Why No One Should Have Belly Pain EP071
Gluten Free RN
Approximately 50% of ER visits are associated with abdominal pain, and the vast majority of those patients are given a diagnosis of ‘abdominal pain of an unknown origin’ and directed to come back if the condition gets worse. This is little comfort to people suffering from severe discomfort who need answers around the cause of their belly pain, not just medication to mask it temporarily. Could undiagnosed celiac disease be the source of their suffering? Today, the Gluten Free RN is diving into the issue of belly pain and undiagnosed celiac disease, discussing the expensive testing often...
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Blood Disorders and Celiac Disease EP070
Gluten Free RN
If you are being treated for a blood disorder, it is time to look deeper and explore the underlying cause. Rather than simply addressing iron- or B12-deficiency anemia in isolation, ask WHY you have a deficiency in the first place. It is possible that damage to your intestines caused by gluten is preventing your body from absorbing the nutrients necessary to grow your red blood cells and keep your immune system healthy. And anemia is not the only blood disorder associated with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity! The Gluten Free RN is taking a closer look at the hematologic...
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Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Celiac Disease EP069
Gluten Free RN
Your gastrointestinal tract is approximately 30 feet long, and it runs from your mouth all the way to the anus! We know that celiac disease can impact any part of the digestive tract. But there is another disease that wreaks havoc on the GI tract as well, a condition called eosinophilic esophagitis or EoE. The Gluten Free RN is explaining the fundamentals of eosinophilic esophagitis, from its characteristic inflammation of the esophagus and elevated eosinophils in the blood to the common symptoms of vomiting and upper abdominal pain. She walks us through the treatment for EoE, an elimination...
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Why No Dairy on a Gluten-Free Diet? EP068
Gluten Free RN
If you’re just getting used to eliminating gluten from your diet, it may feel like a burden to remove dairy as well—especially if you’re a fan of comfort foods like cheese and ice cream. Why exactly do many practitioners recommend a gluten- AND dairy-free diet to patients diagnosed with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity? The Gluten Free RN is walking us through the similarities between gliadin and casein, explaining how the proteins found in gluten, milk and cheese impact our brains. She discusses how Marsh 1 damage from celiac disease leads to an inability to break down...
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Indigenous Populations, Celiac Disease and NCGS EP067
Gluten Free RN
‘Globally, indigenous peoples suffer from poorer health, are more likely to experience disability and reduced quality of life, and ultimately die younger than their non-indigenous counterparts.’ A on the health of indigenous peoples points to a significant problem, but the question is WHY? Why are native populations more prone to autoimmune disorders and type 1 diabetes? Why do they have a higher incidence of alcoholism and drug addiction? And why the lower life expectancy? The Gluten Free RN is exploring the role of food in health outcomes for indigenous populations around the world. She...
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How to Easily Go Gluten-Free or Paleo EP066
Gluten Free RN
‘It’s too hard.’ ‘It’s too expensive.’ ‘It’s time-consuming.’ ‘My family won’t support me.’ There are lots of excuses why you can’t go gluten-free or Paleo, but the Gluten Free RN argues that if it’s hard, you’re doing it wrong. And today, she’s prepared to explain how to easily go gluten-free or Paleo and either maintain or regain your health. Nadine begins with a discussion of the connection between food and pain or discomfort. She explains how the processed, non-food that most people consume causes damage that prevents us from absorbing the nutrients our...
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Russia and Celiac Disease EP065
Gluten Free RN
As stories about Russia continue to dominate the news cycle, you are probably familiar with the recent sanctions against the country, Vladimir Putin’s reelection, and even the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the EU and US. But what do you know about celiac disease in Russia? The Gluten Free RN is taking a closer look at the limited information about celiac disease in Russia, giving us an overview of the country’s size and population and the likely number of celiac cases based on the global tendency. She discusses the thriving wheat production industry in Russia as well as the...
info_outlineIf you are being treated for a blood disorder, it is time to look deeper and explore the underlying cause. Rather than simply addressing iron- or B12-deficiency anemia in isolation, ask WHY you have a deficiency in the first place. It is possible that damage to your intestines caused by gluten is preventing your body from absorbing the nutrients necessary to grow your red blood cells and keep your immune system healthy. And anemia is not the only blood disorder associated with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity!
The Gluten Free RN is taking a closer look at the hematologic manifestations of celiac disease from anemia to hyposplenism. She explains the connection between disorders of the blood and bones, offering insight around why men with both anemia and osteoporosis are also likely to have celiac disease.
Nadine discusses the danger in taking H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors for GERD long-term, describing how those medications decrease the gastric acid necessary for breaking down food. She also addresses what you can do to identify any nutritional deficiencies in your blood and reminds us why celiac patients have difficulty absorbing the nutrients necessary to form red blood cells. Listen in to understand how the skin reflects what’s happening internally and learn how to prevent a number of blood disorders with a gluten-free diet!
What’s Discussed:
The hematologic manifestations of celiac disease
- Anemia secondary to malabsorption of iron, folate and vitamin B12
- Thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, venous thromboembolism
- Hyposplenism, IgA deficiency and increased risk of lymphoma
Why iron supplements didn’t solve Nadine’s anemia
- Couldn’t absorb supplements due to undiagnosed celiac disease
The connection between anemia, osteoporosis and celiac disease
- B12 forms red blood cells made in long bones
The danger of taking H2 blockers and PPIs long-term
- Decreases levels of gastric acid necessary to liquify food
- Leads to bacterial overgrowth, gastritis
How to uncover potential nutrient deficiencies in your blood
- CBC with differential (breakdown of red blood cells)
The conclusions of the 2007 study in Blood
- Anemia and hyposplenism are most common complications of celiac disease
- Obtain small-bowel biopsy in all patients with iron-deficiency anemia
The fat-soluble vitamins
- A, D, E and K
- Deficiency in one indicates malabsorption, potential celiac disease
The connection between DH and celiac disease
- Skin disorders begin in intestines
Resources:
‘Hematologic Manifestations of Celiac Disease’ in Blood
Celiac Disease and Your Spleen
Dr. Ben Lynch: Folic Acid vs. Folate
‘The Thrombophilic Network of Autoantibodies in Celiac Disease’ in BMC Medicine
‘Hematologic Manifestations of Celiac Disease’ in Celiac Disease— From Pathophysiology to Advanced Therapies
‘Sarcoidosis, Celiac Disease and Deep Venous Thrombosis: A Rare Association’ in Balkan Medical Journal
‘Celiac Disease Manifesting with Deep Venous Thrombosis: A Case Report’ in Govaresh
‘How Often Do Hematologists Consider Celiac Disease in Iron-Deficiency Anemia?’ in Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology
‘Deep Vein Thrombosis Associated with Celiac Disease’ in Bratislavske Lekarske Listy
‘Celiac Disease Presenting with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura’ in Case Reports in Hematology
‘Lower Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis Associated with Gluten-Sensitivity Celiac Disease’ in Terapevticheskii Arkhiv
Connect with Nadine:
‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube
Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine
Books by Nadine:
Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Heal