It’s much easier to live with celiac disease now than it was 20 years ago. Despite many improvements, there is still much work to be done. For example, there are still concerns surrounding the safety of gluten-free foods, especially in the restaurant world. While the diagnosis rate is increasing, 83% of people with celiac disease are still undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Up to 70% of people with celiac disease are still exposed to gluten, even though they try their very best to stay strictly gluten-free.

Three Reasons to Get Involved in the Celiac Disease Community

1. It’s great to connect with people who understand firsthand what you’re going through. What better way to feel more comfortable and secure with your feelings about your diagnosis than to talk to people who really, truly get it. Their experiences can help you navigate your gluten-free diet, and vice versa.
2. You’ll learn something new about living with celiac disease constantly if you stay involved in the community. People with celiac disease are extremely active online, and they are vocal about their needs and what needs to be done to help them live better gluten-free lives. By following along on Beyond Celiac social media, for example, you’ll learn about product recalls, tricky ingredients, tips for navigating celiac disease, research news and updates from experts. All these pieces of information with help you to stay healthy.
3. You can actually have input on what happens in the field of celiac disease and influence which problems are tackled by research and Beyond Celiac. Our sole goal is to serve people with celiac disease and their families; by talking to us regularly on social media and staying up-to-date through emails, you’ll be able to point us to areas where you need help the most.

How YOU Can Take the Next Step and Get Involved

Getting involved in the celiac disease community is easy.

1. First, be sure to search Beyond Celiac on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram to follow along with social media campaigns and breaking news in the celiac disease world. Don’t forget to sign up for the monthly eNewsletter, too.
2. Get involved in research. This can be anything from participating in surveys and focus groups to volunteering for a clinical trial. Sign up to receive email notices about various opportunities.
3. Donate to support the work of Beyond Celiac (this link will also show you how we’ll use donations). If donating is not an option for you, consider using Amazon Smile to make your Amazon purchases. Just select Beyond Celiac as the charity of your choice and then get shopping. Amazon will donate a portion of qualifying sales to Beyond Celiac, at no extra cost to you.

yond Celiac thanks Thai Kitchen for supporting this blog post!