The Transition to a Special Needs Consumer: My Ethnographic Journey Caused By Celiac Disease and Diabetes

Lepisto, Lawrence

The Transition to a Special Needs Consumer: My Ethnographic Journey Caused By Celiac Disease and Diabetes

The Transition to a Special Needs Consumer: My Ethnographic Journey

Caused by Celiac Disease and Diabetes

Lawrence Lepisto

Central Michigan University

About two years ago I was diagnosed with celiac disease for which the only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet which eliminate all foods containing wheat, rye, or barley. Then, nine months ago I was found to have developed diabetes which added further dietary restrictions, blood sugar monitoring, and medications. This paper describes, in ethnographic fashion, the resulting changes in my consumer behavior and offers insights into the behavior of many other consumers who face different dramatic restrictions in their diets.

Citation:

Lawrence Lepisto (2006) ,"The Transition to a Special Needs Consumer: My Ethnographic Journey Caused By Celiac Disease and Diabetes", in NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 33, eds. Connie Pechmann and Linda Price, Duluth, MN : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 660-664.

Authors

Lawrence Lepisto, Central Michigan University

Volume

NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 33 | 2006

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