The Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association is gearing up for Celiac Awareness Month.

Celiac disease is caused when the small intestine cannot properly process gluten.

Nancy Dawson is the president for the province’s chapter. She says that the events planned for May will help people understand the stigma behind the disease.

According to the association, one per cent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have celiac disease, yet 80 per cent are undiagnosed.

Dawson says they want to educate people on those statistics. She says people are taking a long time to get diagnosed and the longer people take, the more health problems they develop.