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Gluten Free RN

Gluten Free RN, Nadine Grzeskowiak RN BSN CEN, talks about every aspect of celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten free lifestyle & diet, Paleo lifestyle, microbiome and all related issues.
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Now displaying: June, 2018
Jun 22, 2018

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 article published in the March 1953 edition of the American Journal of Nursing 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 the systematic approach Bobby’s healthcare team took in creating a custom diet, the relationship between the baby’s irritability and his inability to digest food, and his growth and development before and after treatment. She also addresses the misunderstanding that children will ‘grow out of’ celiac disease, explaining that we’ve since learned patients must adhere to a 100% gluten-free diet for life. Listen in for insight around what we can learn from past case studies of celiac disease and understand what we already knew about celiac disease back when Eisenhower was president and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was on the big screen!

What’s Discussed:

How Bobby presented with celiac disease at six months of age

  • Sudden attack of diarrhea, upper respiratory infection
  • History of GI difficulty + distended abdomen, increased gas
  • Marked irritability, weight loss, inability to move arms/legs

The dramatic change in Bobby’s behavior after a diet change

  • Symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and weakness disappeared
  • Irritability subsided with shift to skim milk

The new pediatrician’s approach when Bobby’s progress stalled

  • Shift to goat’s milk, added complete multivitamin supplement

The relationship between irritable behavior and the inability to digest foods

  • Nurse/mom kept detailed records of foods eaten, reactions

Bobby’s growth and development before and after diagnosis

  • Lost ability to perform gross motor activity prior to diagnosis
  • Caught up with age group after diet change (walked at 18 months)

How Bobby’s mother dealt with social pressure to eat with others

  • Replaced cookies and ice cream with sherbet and lollipops
  • Kept away from parties so not conscious of being left out

The chronic nature of celiac disease

  • No one ‘grows out of’ being celiac
  • 100% gluten-free diet for life

Nadine’s insight around what we knew about celiac disease in 1953

  • Many celiac patients unable to digest cow’s milk
  • Need supplementation with vitamins, certain fats
  • Recognized impairment of immune system

Resources

‘Bobby Has Celiac Disease’ in the American Journal of Nursing

Connect with Nadine:

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

‘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

Subscribe to The Gluten Free RN Podcast:

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Jun 15, 2018

‘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 the value in setting goals for your physical and mental health and taking your power back from the people who may have victimized you in the past.

Nadine also encourages you to get educated and engage in critical thinking, questioning the information you are given and saying ‘no’ to anyone who suggests you eat gluten—even if they happen to be a doctor. Listen in to understand the idea that ‘you are your own experiment’ and learn to be the healthiest YOU you can be by committing to a 100% gluten-free diet!

What’s Discussed:

  1. Commit to being 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and ideally Paleo
  • Focus on diet change for first year so intestines can heal
  1. Be self-protective
  • Lose people who aren’t supportive
  1. Find your tribe
  • People who speak up for/with you, willing to change diet
  1. Set goals for what you want your life to look like
  • Write down objectives to make real, move in that direction
  1. Be powerful (even if you don’t feel it)
  • Speak up and take power back, don’t be victim
  1. Get educated and educate others
  • Go to conferences, read and do research
  1. Don’t believe everything you hear, read or say
  • Get answers to questions, then question the answers (ask WHY)
  1. Don’t eat gluten for anyone
  • Not for friends/family, doctors or research study
  1. Be the healthiest YOU, you can be
  • Strive for MORE health, fun, good food and information
  1. You are your own experiment
  • Reassess and apply new information as needs change, work with team

Connect with Nadine:

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

‘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

Jun 8, 2018

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 University that assessed African American celiac patients, discussing the variety of ways the subjects presented with celiac disease and the potential reasons for their poor compliance with the prescribed gluten-free diet.

Nadine also considers the prevalence of celiac disease on the continent of Africa, explaining why she believes the number of celiac patients will explode with the population’s growing exposure to wheat. Listen in for the Gluten Free RN’s insight on other health issues that may point to undiagnosed celiac disease and learn how we can prevent celiac disease among the African American population with access to testing, social support and gluten-free food!

What’s Discussed:

The 2006 Columbia University study of celiac disease in African Americans

  • Identified nine patients with biopsy-proven celiac disease
  • Presented with diarrhea, iron deficiency anemia and autoimmune disorders

Why patients in the Columbia study demonstrated poor dietary compliance

  • Expense, availability and palatability of gluten-free food
  • Lack of symptoms at diagnosis, inaccurate dietary information

Nadine’s prediction around the number of celiac patients in Africa

  • Increasing exposure to wheat will cause explosion

The statistics regarding the mortality burden of celiac disease

  • Science Daily reported estimates of 42K child deaths every year in 2011
  • Majority from Africa and Asia

The overlap between diabetes and celiac disease

  • Every type 1 diabetic is HLA-DQ2/8 gene carrier

The health issues that may indicate undiagnosed celiac disease

  • Type 1 diabetes, cardiac issues, stroke and heart attack
  • Obesity (stems from lack of nutrient absorption)

How to prevent celiac disease among the African American population

  • Access to testing, social support and gluten-free food

Resources:

Celiac Disease and How Gluten Affects Your Skin EP011

‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube

‘Celiac Disease in African-Americans’ in Digestive Diseases and Sciences

‘First Global Estimates of Coeliac Disease and Its Mortality Burden’ in Science Daily

Neurological Disorders Associated with Celiac Disease EP012

‘Celiac Disease in the Developing Countries: A New and Challenging Public Health Problem’ in the World Journal of Gastroenterology

‘Systematic Review: Worldwide Variation in the Frequency of Coeliac Disease and Changes Over Time’ in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

‘HLA Typing and Celiac Disease in Moroccans’ in Medical Sciences

‘A Historical Assessment of Sources and Uses of Wheat Varietal Innovations in South Africa’ in the South African Journal of Science

University of Chicago: Celiac Disease Facts and Figures

‘Adult Coeliac Disease in South Africa: An Analysis of 20 Cases Emphasizing Atypical Presentations’ in the South African Medical Journal  

‘Epidemiological and Clinical Features in Immigrant Children with Coeliac Disease: An Italian Multicentre Study’ in Digestive and Liver Disease

‘Prevalence of Positive Coeliac Serology in a Cohort of South African Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus’ in the South African Journal of Child Health

ESPGHAN Goes Africa Course

Connect with Nadine:

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

‘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

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