The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free cover art

The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free

An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

Pre-order free with Premium Plus
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free

By: Jules E. Dowler Shepard
Pre-order free with Premium Plus

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Pre-order for $30.02

Pre-order for $30.02

About this listen

If you've just been diagnosed with celiac disease, you're not alone: as many as 1 in 133 Americans have this autoimmune disorder characterized by an inability to digest gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains. For ten years, Jules Shepard's gastrointestinal symptoms went misdiagnosed. Finally diagnosed, she experienced a rollercoaster of emotions and illness the year following, as she discovered what she could and could not eat through trial and error.

Now, in The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free, Shepard explains everything you need to learn and do upon your or a family member's diagnosis.

How celiac disease affects your entire body

Eating gluten-free (and avoiding hidden glutens)

Keeping your kitchen safe from cross-contamination

Can I drink alcohol?

Celiac and fertility

Finding support groups

Parenting a child with celiac disease

Dining out, traveling, and entertaining

This unique guide prioritizes all the most important information on diet and lifestyle changes for you. Day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, learn how to safely alter your diet, manage your symptoms, and adjust to living gluten-free. Complete with easy and delicious recipes for gluten-free baking, The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free is your essential guide to a healthy life.

©2025 Jules E. Dowler Shepard (P)2026 Balance
Diets, Nutrition & Healthy Eating Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Gastrointestinal Physical Illness & Disease

Critic Reviews

Living Without, April/May 2009

“This easy read is an inspiration not just for celiacs but for anyone with food sensitivity.”

Gluten Intolerance Quarterly, Spring 2009

“‘The First Year’ is such a practical, well-written guide to the disease and the gluten-free lifestyle that it should be a part of a starter kit that doctors give newly diagnosed patients.”

About.com, 7/15/09

“A glossary, FAQ, gluten-free baking Q and A and an extensive list of Celiac support groups in the U.S. give readers the tools they need adapt to life without gluten. I highly recommend this book, not only for those newly diagnosed with Celiac disease but for anyone curious about this not so rare autoimmune, genetic disease.”

No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.