The conference is beginning, stay tuned for updates!

9:04am – ISU grad Amber Kastler, HY-Vee dietician speaking now

9:09am – The average additional food cost increase for each patient is $4,000/year

9:17am – Awesome, she is bashing GF fad diets. IT IS NOT FOR WEIGHT LOSS!

9:28am – Talking Hy-Vee NuVal system. I am convinced now that Ankeny Hy-Vee has the best GF department in the region.

9:32am – Speaker is getting called out for asking who can TOLERATE some GF products made in non-GF facilities. She isn’t understanding that it is all or none. Some gluten is still gluten and still hurts your body if you have celiac disease. There is no “toleration level.” That is merely for outward symptoms, or gluten intolerance, which is different than celiac disease.

9:36am – Go comment on the FDA proposed regulations!

9:39am – Speaker number one not determined to be a great option. She is wrong on a lot of things…but at least she is sparking conversation.

10:00am – Speaker number two, benefits of a GF Mediterranean diet, by cookbook author Laurel Mors.

10:10am – This might be a low-notes section of the conference…

10:19am – Summary: eat right, exercise, be healthier.

10:40am – Whew…that one was painful. But it’s over. We are excited for the breakout sessions now. Parents of celiac children, especially!

10:55am – Breakout session time with leader Betty Bast. “So far today no experts or updates on anything” was Carrie’s comment. Hoping for better now!

11:00am – A lot of parents seem to have some great ideas for school. It is obvious that school is the number one concern for everybody, which makes sense since that is where the most time is spent…

11:10am – And the testing discussion has begun, and thankfully ended quickly with logic working to our advantage. People seem to be learning about what tests are available and working now. Good stuff!

11:17am – Fad diets will be the death of us. Hopefully the GF fad diet is over soon so we can focus on the fact it is the only medicine we have and the restaurants understand the importance.

11:27am – Now talking hospitals and medication contamination. I always forget about that. Check your labels and talk to your pharmacists! Also, be very careful of your hospital food!

11:44am – Face paint … possible contamination? Another thing I never thought of. Check out http://www.discountschoolsupply.com

1:09pm – Lunch is over, time for the keynote with Dr. Joseph A. Murray, M.D. “The case for screening for celiac disease”

* 1% of the United States have celiac disease, somewhat on par with the rest of the world, but still under-tested

* Targeted testing has shown a much higher rate of diagnosis (a three fold increase from previous testing)

* Olmsted county study tests have shown 1% undiagnosed celiac disease in non-targeted testing, based on 35,000 tests

* Most subjects with undiagnosed celiac disease will remain undiagnosed

* Google “The Swedish Epidemic”, interesting. Study of celiac disease in infants in Sweden.

* CD can start at any age in people previously negative. “You are never too old…”

* Most celiac disease is silent in young people (under 50)

* Significant bone disease is prevalent in undiagnosed celiac disease

* Extremely low cholesterol can be a sign of malabsorbtion, and thus a sign of undiagnosed CD

* Old military testing showed a 400% increase in mortality rate in those who tested positive vs. negative. After five years on a gluten-free diet, the mortality rates go back to normal. (Note: other studies, at least one in the UK, have indicated no difference, apparently there is a variation)

* Another reminder that no cheating on the gluten-free diet is the only way to stay healthy.

* Two most important words in health…and why people tend to feel better on a GF diet if you don’t have celiac disease: EAT. LESS.

* The genetic test is most helpful when it is negative, meaning it is highly unlikely you have CD. If you test positive, you have a 30% chance of developing CD.