Meet Sue

I was diagnosed with celiac disease in May 1995. My Mom and sister also have celiac disease and when we look back at previous generations in our family, we can trace a path through the years, even though no one knew about celiac disease at the time.

I most learned about the disease and the gluten-free diet on my own. I scoured the internet and tried hard to separate fact from fiction in what I read. I went to every support group meeting and conference I could find and I read all the research reports I could find.

I learned a lot of facts, but the coping skills had to come on my own. I had to deal with being surrounded by gluten at work, in the stores, eating out, and even at home. I traveled for business and coped with business meetings and restaurant meals.

It took time. I ate boring restaurant meals of fish or chicken with no sauce and a baked potato. I politely refused snacks from well-intentioned hosts, saying that I was not really hungry, but thanks anyway. But over the years, I learned how to ask questions in restaurants, I learned to read product labels, and I learned how to celebrate social events for the social interaction instead of for the food.

These days, I eat food I enjoy (and not just plain broiled chicken). I travel for business and for pleasure. I attend a variety of small and large social events. I don’t feel deprived because of my gluten-free diet, but I sure feel better than I did before I was diagnosed with celiac disease.

I started out sharing my knowledge with my local Canadian Celiac Association chapter. I have been fortunate to serve the national association serving on committees and on the National Board. I’m not a coach because I serve on the CCA National Board, but I have taken advantage of the information I been fortunate to learn at CCA events.

I strongly believe in the benefit of support groups at the local and national level, but I know a lot of people don’t consider themselves to be joiners. My hope is that I can help those people through this site and my services.

Sue N
Waterloo, ON