blocks_image

Next Meeting:

Mar. 17th, 2012

~

Third Saturday of odd numbered months

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

~

Ripon Medical Center in the Green Lake Room located in the lower level.

~

Annual Membership dues are $10.00 per year.

~

Prospective members can attend two meetings before dues are assessed.

~

Meetings

Alan Klapperich
al@gigofecw.org
(920) 748-4877

~

Educate, Motivate, Advocate

GiG of ECW's mission is to provide support to persons with gluten intolerances, including celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, and other gluten sensitivities, in order to live healthy lives.

Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease is one of the most common and under-diagnosed diseases today. It is estimated that 1 in every 133 people in the USA is affected by this disease.
Sadly, 97% of them do not know it.

Celiac Disease is an auto-immune disease where the consumption of gluten [protein found in wheat, barley, rye] causes the body to attack [and damage] the small intestine. Untreated, this condition can lead to malnutrition since nutrients are not being absorbed properly.

Learn more about Celiac Disease... • Don't miss GiG's Educational Bulletins...
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) is a chronic hereditary auto-immune skin disease the presents with groups of itchy, watery, blisters or pimples. Ingestion of gluten triggers the immune system so that it deposits Immunoglobulin A) under the top layer of skin [creating the itchy, watery blisters].

In DH, the primary target is the skin, whereas in celiac disease the damage occurs in the small intestine.

Learn more about Dermatitis Herpetiformis...
Gluten Sensitivity
Gluten Sensitivity [also known as Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, The Gluten Syndrome] is a condition that is still evolving in the eyes of mainstream medicine. Only recently has the existence of Gluten Sensitivity been proven by the medical/research profession.

GS can present with many of the same symptoms of CD, however it does not present with intestinal damage. Because testing is focused on intestinal damage, the results in those with GS generally come back negative or inconclusive. This makes diagnosing GS even harder than CD. This means patients can often suffer longer because the condition is generally overlooked once celiac disease testing comes back negative.

Dr. Alessio Fasano [medical director of Univ. of Maryland's School of Medicine – Center for Celiac Research], reports seeing 60-70% of his patients fitting his criteria for gluten sensitivity. This means they test negative for CD and wheat allergy, but experience resolution of symptoms on a gluten-free diet. There's a growing number of doctors that say GS effects 10 – 30% of the population.

Learn more about Gluten Sensitivity... Also see our Gluten Sensitivity Links...
blocks_image