Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
03/29/2012 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB202 | |
| SCR16 | |
| HB319 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 202 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SCR 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 319 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SCR 16-CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
3:24:43 PM
CHAIR KELLER announced that the next order of business would be
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 16, Proclaiming May 2012 to be
Celiac Disease Awareness Month.
3:25:15 PM
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, Alaska State Legislature, stated that
proposed SCR 16 would designate May 2012 as Celiac Disease
Awareness Month. She explained that celiac disease, though
often erroneously referred to as gluten intolerance, was a
genetic disease in which exposure to gluten actually damaged the
intestinal walls. She reported that gluten was a protein found
on wheat, rye, and barley, and that 1 out of 133 Americans, more
than 5,000 Alaskans, was estimated to have celiac disease, even
though almost 97 percent were not aware of it. She shared that,
as the symptoms were vague, often it was not immediately
diagnosed. She pointed out that, as there was not a cure, only
a strict gluten free diet could treat it. She reported that
beer, cold cuts, soy sauce, and some cosmetics all contained
gluten.
3:28:04 PM
CHAIR KELLER expressed his appreciation for the proposed
resolution.
3:28:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA shared that she also had celiac disease,
and she offered her support for the proposed resolution.
3:28:47 PM
BRANDY WENDLER, RN, Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association,
stated that she has celiac disease, possibly since her freshman
year in high school, although it took ten years for her to get
the diagnosis. She explained that the ingestion of gluten
caused an auto-immune reaction, and in the small intestine this
resulted in an inability to absorb nutrients from food. She
shared that, even though she was in the medical field, she had
not been able to get an appropriate diagnosis. She declared
that the raising of awareness was "pivotal in saving people the
suffering" and the money which resulted from mis-diagnosis.
3:30:59 PM
TERESA NEENO, Allergist, Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Center
of Alaska, said that, as numerous people had food allergies,
diagnosis for celiac disease was often missed. She explained
that the removal of gluten from the diet made the tests for
celiac disease non-reactive. She declared that the raising of
awareness for celiac disease would increase that conversation
between providers and patients, and allow for earlier diagnosis.
3:32:18 PM
CHAIR KELLER asked if it was celiac disease or its awareness
that was increasing. He asked what was the cause for a genetic
disorder.
3:33:09 PM
DR. NEENO, in response to Representative Keller, said that the
prevalence was not increasing, but that there was more awareness
of the disease. She agreed that awareness allowed for earlier
diagnosis, as the tests were then given. She pointed out that
failure to have the tests could lead to more complications from
other auto immune disorders, often seen in conjunction with
celiac disease. She stated that, although these were different
than allergies, food was a commonality to both.
CHAIR KELLER expressed his surprise to the prevalence.
DR. NEENO said that there were a lot of alternatives to diet,
and there was a lot of information for gluten free products on
line.
3:35:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked if celiac disease was more
prevalent in Scandinavians.
DR. NEENO replied that she was unaware of the prevalence in
populations around the world, but that there was more gluten
sensitivity in the northern tiers, such as the Irish. She
declared it likely there was a selective advantage at some point
in time. She shared that, although a genetic study was
available, a positive test only increased the likelihood, as
celiac disease was more common in Caucasian populations. She
declared that celiac disease was clearly a genetic disease with
some groups having a greater predisposition.
3:37:49 PM
CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony.
3:38:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked about the connection of celiac
disease in cosmetics.
3:38:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK moved to report SCR 16 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SCR 16 was reported from the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.