(date)

Dear Representative (name) or Senator (name):

As a person with celiac disease, I am writing you to share information about this disease and about the (include the legislation that you want to discuss).

Celiac disease is a genetic disorder affecting children and adults. In people with celiac disease, eating certain types of protein evokes a T-cell mediated autoimmune response that causes damage to the small intestine. The offending protein (gluten) is found in wheat, barley, rye, and, to a small extent, oats (WBRO). Untreated celiac disease can lead to a variety of health complications including cancer (especially non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), osteoporosis, anemia, infertility, and in extremely rare cases, death. The only known treatment for celiac disease is the life-long adherence to a strict gluten-free diet.

The gluten-free diet may seem like an easy treatment to many, however ensuring that every food and drug item chosen is free of WBRO can be a very difficult task. In the vast majority of foods, a substance containing gluten has been processed and placed on the label under a different name without noting the source. For example: natural flavorings can be made from barley (which I cannot ingest). When the source of the ingredient is not properly identified, I must contact the product manufacturer for clarification. This time-consuming task can be difficult and often ends with no clear explanations, leaving me with a limited number of products I feel confident are safe.

A 2003 University of Maryland study indicates that celiac disease can affect 1 in every 133 Americans (approx. 1.5 million people). Although once thought to be rare, celiac disease is actually the most common, albeit the most under diagnosed, genetic digestive disease in America .

I am a member of the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA), the largest patient-based celiac support organization in the country. The CSA staff is available to provide you with additional information on celiac disease and the self-managed diet that, by medical necessity, must be free of WBRO for life.

(Give a brief statement discussing how important the legislation is to you and others with celiac disease).

Sincerely,

(name)

(date)

The Honorable (your Representative)

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (name):

(Introduce the legislation you want to discuss, and state the purpose of the letter.)

I have been diagnosed with celiac disease (CD). The only treatment for CD is a lifelong self-managed gluten-free diet. I must avoid wheat, barley, rye and oats because the proteins they contain evoke an autoimmune response, which causes the villi in my small intestine to flatten. This damage to the villi leads to malabsorption of nutrients, and thus many other illnesses. I consider myself lucky, though, because this disease is manageable through diet. That puts me in control.

(In a few paragraphs combine the purpose of the letter to how it relates to you personally).

Sincerely,

(name)