If your child has just been diagnosed with celiac disease (CD), you may be experiencing mixed emotions. On one hand, no one likes to hear that their child has any kind of medical condition. However, you may be relieved to finally have the answer to your child’s past medical problems. You may also feel better knowing that CD is a treatable disorder, and that intestinal damage from CD is reversible. You may also feel confused, overwhelmed, or unsure about how to start the healing process.
Therapy for CD is achieved through dietary avoidance of foods containing gluten. The purpose of this booklet is to help newly diagnosed patients with CD and their families get started with treatment—the gluten-free diet. This booklet is a starter guide that will help you through the initial days of the gluten-free lifestyle and is designed to help you and your family manage the emotional stress that you may be feeling right now.