Evidence shows that most patients with IBS would give up 20% of their lifespan for one symptom-free year. Pairing this data with real patient experiences highlights the need for care that addresses both physical and emotional symptoms, making symptom relief a true measure of success.

IBS may not be visible, but its burden is constant. CBT offers practical ways to manage symptoms and improve quality of life, yet most patients never hear about it. Expanding access can help people live with greater comfort and confidence.

For people with celiac disease, fiber alone may not heal the gut. McMaster research shows the right gut bacteria, like Prevotellaceae, are needed to process fiber. Supporting gut health may require combining diet with microbiome-focused strategies, not just gluten avoidance.

Patients with GI conditions often need more than medication to manage their complex conditions. Integrated care with GI dietitians allows personalized nutrition support, improves outcomes, and helps gastroenterologists focus on complex medical management.

1 in 5 adults face GI conditions, yet care is often fragmented. Integrated virtual GI solutions can help patients manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce unnecessary ER visits, all while supporting PCPs in delivering holistic care.

The Celiac Disease Foundation’s $15M Impact Fund is redefining philanthropy by investing in detection, education, prevention, and therapies. With most cases undiagnosed and research underfunded, this patient-focused, venture-driven approach aims to accelerate solutions that are sustainable.

“Compassion is a commitment,” as Brené Brown says. In gastroenterology, that choice shapes care every day. For patients with IBS, IBD, or celiac disease, feeling heard and supported drives trust and ultimately better outcomes.

AI in IBD generates massive data from endoscopy, histology, and wearable, but data alone doesn’t improve care. Its value comes when insights are actionable, integrated into workflows, and support clinicians in delivering the right treatment to the right patient at the right time.

Patient empowerment is often framed around access to information or digital tools, and for good reason. But while these are important factors, one of its most overlooked elements is much simpler: permission to ask questions.

Digestive symptoms like bloating or nausea are often dismissed as “just part of being a woman.” Yet IBS is 2–6x more common in women, and chronic constipation is twice as prevalent. Recognizing gender-specific GI patterns is key to ensuring symptoms are taken seriously and properly treated.

In the latest Gut Matters episode, Dr. Andrea Shin and I speak with advocate Katherine Wald about navigating IBS-C alongside autoimmune and autonomic conditions. Her story highlights the toll of misdiagnosis and how listening and clinician partnership can truly change outcomes.

College can be a minefield for students with celiac disease, but the Celiac Disease Foundation just released the first national recommendations to guide colleges on housing, dining, academics, and campus life—helping students stay safe, supported, and included: https://celiac.org/school-college/

Managing IBS is rarely straightforward. Diet often plays a central role, but with so many approaches, patients and clinicians can feel overwhelmed. A recent review in Nutrients highlights the key takeaways for dietary management:

Real-world health data hold huge potential for patient care, but remain fragmented and poorly governed. Treating them as public infrastructure with oversight and accountability could empower patients and advance research.

Video visits went from novelty to expectation in just a few years. Patients now want personalized, real-time care, and AI will push that further. Providers who think ahead and integrate tech thoughtfully will redefine the patient experience.

When symptoms overlap—oral ulcers, joint pain, GI inflammation—diagnosis isn’t always clear. But this recent case shows how early biopsy and multidisciplinary care prevented further complications and guided effective patient treatment.

The HUNT-GWAS study shows how genetics, including HLA-DQB1, can shape gut microbes like Agathobacter, potentially influencing celiac disease risk. It highlights the promise of integrating genomics and microbiome science to better understand disease and guide future precision medicine.

Social media offers support for people with celiac disease, but fear-driven content spreads fast. Balancing personal experience with credible advice helps patients manage gluten safely, with clinicians guiding them on how to use social media wisely.

GAHT in transgender adults with IBD didn’t raise overall flare risk, though flares were more common in those with active IBD at start or on testosterone. A great reminder that close monitoring is essential for patients' wellness and quality of life.

“Gut health” often feels vague, but a new consensus defines it as normal GI function without symptoms affecting quality of life, blending subjective experience with objective measures. A clearer framework for research and patient care.

Endometriosis and IBS often mimic each other. Awareness of the overlap, careful symptom tracking, and open conversations with healthcare providers can make the difference in getting the right diagnosis and treatment. #EndometriosisAwarenessDay

Disparities in IBS care highlight systemic inequities: fewer specialist referrals, more invasive procedures for ethnic minority patients. Improving outcomes means embedding equity and cultural competence in medicine.

A 12-week study shows time-restricted feeding (8-hr eating window) may reduce Crohn’s disease activity by 40%, abdominal discomfort by 50%, and improve inflammation, without cutting calories. Meal timing could be a practical, patient-centered tool alongside treatment as long as it is used safely.

It's nice to see a win. Very glad to share this good news!

Two-thirds of teens with IBS no longer meet criteria by 24. Persistence links to stress, sleep, diet, and family history—showing that early, broad interventions can change the trajectory of a condition often misunderstood.

New UCSF research links estrogen to gut pain, helping explain why women experience higher rates of IBS. By uncovering how hormones affect colon sensitivity, this work opens pathways for better therapies and highlights the importance of studying sex differences in biology.

Some people with IBS cope better, not because symptoms are milder, but because they’ve built resilience. A new study highlights how mental flexibility shapes well-being, underscoring why whole-person care is essential in chronic illness.

The future of patient experience blends digital, physical, and clinical care. Smarter tools and spaces reduce stress and support healing, reminding us that true innovation puts people first at every step.

In GI care, nutrition advice isn’t always built on the same level of evidence, and patients feel that gap. Stronger, more consistent dietary guidelines could improve care and make everyday decisions simpler for people living with IBS and IBD.

Time to Talk Day reminds us that mental health starts with being believed. Many with IBS hear their tests are “normal,” even when their symptoms aren’t, and shame often follows. Validation is a form of care. Let’s build spaces where people don’t have to hide their experience.

The FDA is seeking input on gluten labeling for rye, barley, and oats to protect people with celiac disease and sensitivities. This is a chance for patients, families, and stakeholders to help improve transparency, safety, and real-world guidance on packaged foods.

A year-long study shows dietary monitoring reduces GI and non-GI symptoms in children with celiac disease, but quality of life remains low. Social challenges and limited awareness still leave kids feeling isolated, showing that support must go beyond nutrition to include social understanding.

Patients face fragmented care, rising costs, and confusing admin hurdles. Providers are burned out. In this environment, trust is healthcare’s currency. Pharma’s next imperative is supporting people through these challenges. To me, that means 🧵:

IBS in pregnancy is rarely documented but is linked to longer stays, higher costs, placental complications, and postpartum infection. While not a major risk factor for severe outcomes, it signals greater obstetric complexity and highlights the need for individualized care planning.

Night-shift work shows how powerfully routine and stress shape gut health. IBS and dyspepsia rates are 3–5x higher—not because of diet alone, but disrupted sleep, meal timing, and circadian rhythms. Gut health is about how we live, not just what we eat.

Celiac disease is often talked about as a medical or dietary issue, but for many people, its biggest impact shows up at work 🧵:

Managing GI conditions like IBS or celiac is hard when diet and lifestyle guidance aren’t accessible or personalized. But research shows that AI can help, delivering tailored support, boosting adherence, and empowering patients.

Over 40M people turn to ChatGPT daily for health questions, and to me, that says more about gaps in care than AI. When patients leave visits unsure or unheard, they look elsewhere. But creating space for questions and trust in the exam room can prevent confusion later.

For people with celiac disease, eating safely often means decoding labels without clear guidance. New research shows an AI app can classify foods as gluten-free with ~99% accuracy. Tools like this could reduce daily friction and make expert support more accessible where it’s needed most.

We often talk about immunity and the microbiome in gut health, but glycans may be just as critical. They protect the gut barrier, shape immune response, and may serve as blood-based biomarkers—and even preventive targets—for IBD before inflammation takes hold:

Access matters as much as innovation. New research shows stark geographic gaps in IBD care across the U.S. with many rural and high-poverty areas having few or no gastroenterologists at all. Where you live still shapes whether you can get timely specialty care.

Living with IBD means managing mental and physical health. New Penn research shows telehealth CBT can reduce IBD-related disability by addressing the mind–gut connection. A scalable reminder that treating chronic illness means caring for the whole person.

EMRs improve care but can distract from patients. UC Davis Health uses an AI scribe to free physicians from note-taking, guided by patient feedback on privacy, accuracy, and trust. Technology works best when it strengthens, not replaces, human connection.

New research shows that for people with IBD, abdominal pain can linger even when inflammation is gone. Gut-brain signals, microbes, and stress all play a role. Understanding these connections is key to finding treatments that truly ease daily life, not just the inflammation.

Patient advocacy helps raise awareness, but it also drives smarter research. Engaging patients early in trial design and ongoing feedback ensures studies are feasible, meaningful, and aligned with real-world needs, creating therapies that truly make a difference.

Last week, Michelle and I spoke at the Belly Bestie Club’s NYC dinner, a safe space for women with IBS to connect and share. I discussed constipation (“Backed Up Gals”), and it was inspiring to see peer support in action. Grateful our org could support this mission!

For many with celiac, going gluten-free can become draining. But "celiac burnout" doesn't mean that you're failing. Revisiting your “why,” simplifying meals, exploring foods, and seeking support can make the diet sustainable again.

2025 shifted IBD care from reaction to prevention. Research highlights the “3 Ps”: prevention, pre-diagnosis, and participation—spotlighting diet, early biomarkers, and proactive engagement to reduce risk and improve outcomes before symptoms even appear. More below:

Digital patient intake from online scheduling to mobile check-ins gives patients control and lets clinicians focus on care. At its best, technology in healthcare streamlines admin tasks while preserving the human connection. Great example from Nebraska Methodist Health Sytem.

Sara Levitt’s story shows how people with Crohn’s make constant, invisible calculations just to get through the day. It’s a reminder to build care around real life and offer extra empathy, especially during the holidays.