autoimmune disorders – 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 UN Report 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 begins with an explanation of the dietary differences between hunter-gatherer and agricultural societies, discussing how native populations were exposed to the gluten in grains only when European conquerors came to occupy their lands.

Nadine shares her challenge in finding information about indigenous populations and celiac disease, explaining why further study is necessary. She speaks to the highly processed nature of the commodity foods provided to Native Americans in the US and the shortcomings of Canada’s Food Guide when it comes to the health of First Nations people. Listen in and learn the significance of educating indigenous populations around celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, empowering those groups to make choices that will improve their health and quality of life!

What’s Discussed:

The global indigenous population

370M in 70-plus countries
Rich diversity of cultures

The health status of indigenous populations

Higher incidence of autoimmune disorders, T1D
Higher prevalence of addictive disorders, cardiovascular disease
Lower life expectancy, increased morbidity/mortality

Why indigenous populations have more health issues

Access to health care, isolation and lifestyle
Food (hunter-gatherer vs. agricultural society)

The lack of information around indigenous populations and celiac disease

Very few studies available

The impact of grains on the native population

Significant change in health care outcomes, quality of life

The prevalence of celiac disease in indigenous populations

At least 1%, likely 3% or higher
No way to know without mass screening

Why eating healthy is a challenge for the indigenous population

Food scarcity, desserts
Reliance on commodity foods provided by government

The conclusions of the Prairie Nymph blog on Canada’s Food Guide

Based on diet of European origins, doesn’t mention celiac disease
Ignores health benefits of traditional diet for First Nations people

Why it’s important to educate indigenous people around celiac disease

Empower to make food choices with better health outcomes

Celiac disease is messy. It can develop at any age, in any ethnicity, in both men and women, with any symptom or no symptom at all. Every patient is different, and each one presents differently. There is nothing cut and dried about celiac disease, except that a 100% gluten-free diet is necessary for healing.

Nurses are in a unique position to make sense of this chaos and advocate for patients, recognizing possible celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity and recommending appropriate testing when necessary. Today, the Gluten Free RN covers the basics of celiac disease for nurses, explaining the frequency with which the disorder is misdiagnosed or goes undiagnosed for years. She walks us through the testing required for a diagnosis of celiac disease proper, who should undergo testing, and why one negative test doesn’t rule out the disease.

Nadine speaks to the 300-plus signs of celiac disease, reviewing the most common symptoms and the overlap between celiac disease and autoimmune disorders like type 1 diabetes. She also shares the discouraging statistics around the impact of undiagnosed celiac disease on fetal development and maternal health. Listen in to understand why Nadine encourages fellow nurses include celiac disease as part of their differential diagnosis, providing gluten-sensitive patients with a safe, gluten-free environment and a higher quality of life!