10/31/2024
Living with celiac disease has a lot in common with what we all went through during the Covid pandemic. Just like with Covid, people’s approaches to celiac can be vastly different. Each family and individual has a different level of comfort and risk when it comes to avoiding gluten, and it often sparks similar judgment or misunderstanding from others.
To start, let’s look at the different “levels” of gluten-free needs. With celiac disease, even a tiny trace of gluten can damage the small intestine and lead to intense, long-lasting symptoms. It’s not a matter of choice or preference—it’s a strict, lifelong need to avoid gluten in all forms. Then, there are people with gluten sensitivity who experience discomfort but not intestinal damage, and some people even have gluten allergies, which might trigger reactions similar to other food allergies. On top of that, there are those who are gluten-free by choice, perhaps for health reasons, but who don’t have medical consequences from cross-contamination.
Despite these differences, the basic recommendation is the same: avoid gluten. However, the degree of vigilance can vary widely. For someone with severe celiac, the stakes are high—they might need to carry their own food to social events, avoid restaurants without strict protocols, and even be cautious about shared kitchens. But someone with a mild sensitivity might be comfortable eating at restaurants or sharing meals prepared in gluten-containing kitchens.
This brings up another comparison to Covid, where some people wore masks in every setting and disinfected everything, while others were more relaxed. People’s approaches reflected their comfort levels, risk factors, and family needs. Just like with Covid precautions, these differences in handling gluten sensitivity or celiac can lead to misunderstandings or judgments. Some people might think, “Isn’t that a bit much?” when they see someone wiping down surfaces at a restaurant or bringing their own meal. Others may think that a gluten-free person isn’t “careful enough.”
But everyone has their own unique health challenges and comfort levels. Here is where the golden rule—treat others how THEY want to be treated—comes in. The choices someone makes about how to avoid gluten aren’t for others to judge. Instead, it’s important to understand that these decisions are rooted in each person’s or family’s specific needs, anxieties, and experiences. Just as we had to respect each other’s approaches to Covid, whether hyper-cautious or more relaxed, we need to offer that same understanding to those managing celiac or gluten sensitivities.
Living gluten-free often brings challenges and social hurdles that many people don’t see. A parent of a child with celiac may feel like they’re constantly navigating social gatherings, explaining their child’s needs, and hoping others respect the family’s boundaries. Someone with gluten sensitivity might get tired of hearing, “Are you really gluten-free, though?” when they make an exception. These personal choices can feel like a minefield of opinions and comments.
So let’s remember to approach others with empathy. We may not know the whole story behind someone’s choices, and that’s okay. Embracing everyone’s unique way of protecting themselves and their loved ones helps us build a more compassionate and understanding community. In the end, we’re all just trying to keep ourselves and our families safe and healthy. So whether someone is celiac, gluten-sensitive, or just gluten-free by choice, they deserve support and understanding, not judgment.
