After I got diagnosed with celiac disease when I was 19, I faced a difficult choice every time friends invited me out: I could either stay home, or I could risk getting terribly sick.

I was a college volleyball player at West Virginia University when I started experiencing severe migraines and stomach issues. I could not eat anything without getting sick, which resulted in me losing 40 pounds in just two months. Doctors went back and forth on the cause, until finally I requested to be tested for celiac disease, and the results came back positive.

Until I started researching possible diagnoses, I had never even heard of celiac disease. It is a disorder that causes the body’s immune system to react abnormally to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. The reaction damages the lining of the small intestine, and it can cause gastrointestinal problems, anemia, and other complications. According to Boston Children’s Hospital, about one in every 133 Americans has celiac disease.

It was a relief to finally get a diagnosis. And at first the solution sounded simple: Stop eating gluten. But it turns out that is easier said than done.

The hidden social burden of celiac disease

Shortly after I was diagnosed, my volleyball team went on a three-week trip for a series of away games. I ordered gluten-free items off of every restaurant menu, thinking that would be enough to keep me safe. But in reality, I got so sick that I do not even remember the trip; that is how much brain fog I had. I also experienced significant fatigue and noticed that my body took longer to recover from physical strain compared to my teammates. What I did not know at the time is how my celiac disease can be triggered by kitchen cross-contamination, shared fryers, and even “gluten-free enough” items that contain up to 20 parts per million of gluten.

At the time, it felt like I would never be able to eat out again.

New research shows that I am not alone. A national survey of more than 700 people in the U.S. celiac community, conducted in collaboration with the advocacy organization Beyond Celiac, found that 71 percent avoid eating out at restaurants to reduce risk. Two-thirds say they deliberately pass on social gatherings and parties, and more than half sacrifice visiting friends and family members for meals.

Unsurprisingly, more than half of respondents also say they feel isolated or excluded in social settings.

That is what many people do not understand about celiac. In addition to wreaking physical havoc, the disease can be incredibly alienating. It is no fun to skip out on a dinner party with family or lunch with friends, especially given how deeply centered our culture is around food. But when every meal out comes with the risk of debilitating illness, many people with celiac choose to simply stay home.

Taking control with food testing technology

As a college athlete, that was not an option for me. We are constantly on the road, and it would have been impractical for me to bring my own food with me wherever we went. But since I now knew I could not rely on claims of “gluten-free” to get me through meals safely, I scrambled to find a way to detect gluten on my own.

I looked into a gluten detection dog, but bringing a dog with me on team trips felt just as impractical as bringing my own food. Then, my research led me to consumer gluten detection tests.

Immediately, I ordered the NIMA Gluten Sensor kit. The website promised that the test could tell me within three minutes whether or not a pea-sized food sample contained gluten. The idea of having a small, portable device that could give me quick answers made me hopeful because it felt like it could change how I approached eating out and trying new foods.

I was right. In fact, the sensor worked so well that I reached out to NIMA Partners after several months of using the product, asking if they would be interested in an NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) partnership. As of 2021, NIL deals allow student athletes like me to earn money for promoting businesses. I was thrilled when NIMA Partners said yes, because the sensor had already saved me from getting sick multiple times, and I knew I would keep using it whether the company sponsored me or not.

This past season was my final year playing volleyball at Ohio State University. And when I went out with my team to celebrate our wins, I did not have to worry that a meal might make me sick enough to miss practice or a match. I could be fully present, with my teammates, my body, and our shared goals, without second-guessing every bite.

Since then, NIMA has relaunched the sensor with major advances in its technology. Independent lab testing now shows the updated system is 99 percent accurate at detecting gluten at 10 parts per million, exactly half the FDA threshold for foods labeled “gluten-free.” For people with celiac disease, that level of confidence matters.

I no longer have to choose between being social and being healthy. Thanks to advances in food testing, I can have both.

Kamiah Gibson is a Division I women’s volleyball athlete and psychology student at The Ohio State University. Diagnosed with celiac disease at age 19, she has balanced the demands of collegiate athletics while managing a chronic autoimmune condition, an experience that reshaped her understanding of resilience, health, and community.

She serves as community manager for NIMA, a portable gluten testing device that helps individuals with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities test food for gluten. Through advocacy and education, Kamiah works to empower the gluten free community to participate more confidently in everyday life.

Kamiah plans to pursue a career in mental health therapy for children living with chronic illnesses and currently interns at a children’s hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She shares her journey and advocacy work on TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn.