Celiac Disease/ Gluten Sensitivity Specialist

Gastro Center of Maryland -  - Gastroenterologist

Gastro Center of Maryland

Gastroenterologists located in Annapolis, MD, Columbia, MD, Riverdale, MD, & Olney, MD

Dr. Pia Prakash, Dr. Josh Rosenbloom, Dr. Eduardo Castillo, and Dr. Dado Xu are Board Certified physicians who serve patients living in the greater Maryland area. At Gastro Center of Maryland, the doctors and their staff specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

Celiac Disease/ Gluten Sensitivity Q & A

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an allergy to gluten which is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats.  When gluten is present in the food a person consumes, an immune reaction occurs which results in damage to the small intestine. The more damage that is caused, the less able the intestines are to absorb nutrients and break down foods that are eaten. Symptoms include weight loss, bloating, abdominal pain, and/or diarrhea. Celiac disease not only impairs the body's ability to absorb the nutrients it needs, it can also increase the risk of lymphoma, anemia, and osteoporosis.  

How is celiac disease treated?

The mainstay of treatment for celiac disease is strict avoidance of gluten in the diet. It’s important to know the sources of gluten and to make sure they are not present in foods that are consumed. Even a tiny amount of gluten in the diet can result in symptoms and damage to the small intestine.

Get answers to your questions about celiac disease by calling Dr. Rudy Rai and Dr. Pia Prakash at the Gastro Center of Maryland.

What are common sources of gluten?

Gluten can be found in many different grains and pre-packaged foods. Gluten can be found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats. These grains can be replaced with gluten-free alternatives including rice, quinoa, millet, corn, and buckwheat. Certain beers may also contain gluten due to the type of grains used when making beer. Lagers, ales, and other dark beers contain gluten, but there are also brands of beer that are gluten free. There are certain makeup products and toiletries that also contain gluten. It’s wise to always check product labels to be sure you’re not consuming gluten if you have celiac disease.

Major Insurance Providers Accepted

At Gastro Center of Maryland, we accept most major insurance plans. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept.

Click HERE for the Full Insurance List, or contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed.

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AARP
Aetna
Allied Benefit Systems
Amerigroup
Bankers Life and Casualty Company
Blue Cross Blue Shield
CareFirst
CHAMPVA
Cigna
CoreSource
Corvel
GHI
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Humana
Maryland Physicians Care
Mutual of Omaha
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