Facts

  • There is NO cure for celiac disease right now.

  • The only treatment at this time is to follow a strict gluten-free lifestyle.

  • Celiac disease is the most common genetic autoimmune disease in the world, affecting at least 1% or 3 million Americans. 1 in 133 people has Celiac Disease.
  • As a comparison, there are 2.1 million Americans living with rheumatoid arthritis, 1.5 million living with Lupus, and 400,000 living with multiple sclerosis.
  • 97% of people who have Celiac Disease are not diagnosed yet.
  • The average time it takes for a person with symptoms to be diagnosed with Celiac Disease in the U.S. is 4 years
  • 17% of people with Celiac have an immediate family member who also has it.  4.5% have a first degree family member with it.
  • Only 35% of newly diagnosed patients had chronic diarrhea (which makes the other symptoms of celiac disease important to know!).
  • The number of Americans with Celiac Disease would fill 4,400 747 airplanes and fill Comiskey Park (now US Cellular Field, with 40,000 seats) to watch the Chicago White Sox 55 times
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated that the gluten free market revenue will be over $1.5 billion in 2010.
  • 500,000 new celiac diagnoses will occur over the next five years.
  • Left untreated, Celiac Disease can increase the risk of cancer 200-300%.
  • 5-12% of people with Down Syndrome have CD.
  • In 2004, a law was passed called the Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act. This went into law in 2006, and made it possible for celiac disease patients to read a food label and determine if a product is safe for them to eat.