Canadian Lawmaker Pushes for Early Celiac Detection

Celiac.com 07/05/2013 - Meanwhile, on the Canadian gluten-free front, a local lawmaker has introduced a bill to have testing for celiac disease covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay-Atikokan) introduced a private member’s bill Tuesday afternoon in Queen’s Park asking for an amendment to the Health Insurance Act to include serological testing for celiac disease.

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Mauro cited statistics indicating that about one per cent of Canadians are currently affected by celiac disease, but that 90 per cent of them are undiagnosed.

The longer those people remain undiagnosed, the more severe the potential health impact. The long-term impacts of celiac disease can include vitamin deficiencies and higher rates of type 1 diabetes, arthritis, depression, neuropathy, infertility and osteoporosis, among other factors.

Celiac disease can be detected with a simple blood test and controlled by diet. With early detection, people with celiac disease can live "a long and healthy life,” Mauro said.

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