If you cut your hand, chances are you would clean the wound and keep it bandaged until it healed. But how do you clean and dress a wound you can’t see? That’s the quandary millions of people with celiac disease face every day.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects about one in 133 people. But, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation (celiac.org), 97 percent of those who have the disease don’t even know they do.

Part of the difficulty in diagnosing the disease stems from the vast range of symptoms people exhibit. Celiac disease has been linked to everything from eczema and diarrhea to thyroid disorders, lupus and spontaneous miscarriages, and those symptoms vary wildly from person to person. The only thing those afflicted have in common is that when they consume the protein gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, spelt, barley, malt and contaminated oats, they can’t digest it. The gluten scrapes the small intestine, much like you scrape your knee; the more gluten introduced to the system, the larger the internal wound becomes.

Luckily, there is an easy fix (if you can stomach it): Avoid gluten entirely, which allows the intestines to heal. But because even a half a teaspoon of gluten or food contaminated with gluten can make a celiac sufferer sick, it’s crucial that when eating out, you go someplace that understands how to prepare gluten-free meals. Here are some local restaurants that offer gluten-free variations of meals that celiac patients are most likely to miss.

Burgers and fries

Even foods that seem like they’d be safe — french fries, for example — often aren’t because they’re fried in the same oil as flour-dusted creations like onion rings. So it’s a real treat finding some place that uses separate fryers. Five Guys Burgers (fiveguys.com) is safe — just order the burger without a bun and be smart about toppings. Five Guys does cook the fries in peanut oil and has peanuts by the front door, so this may not be a good choice for those with nut allergies. Yeah Burger! (yeahburger.com) offers a high-end alternative. In addition to serving hormone-free, organic burgers and sides, the hip restaurant offers gluten-free hotdog and hamburger buns as well as onion rings and fries. If you feel like splurging, go whole hog and top it all off with a shake or gluten-free dessert.

Pizza and pasta

Mellow Mushroom (mellowmushroom.com) now offers a tasty gluten-free crust at selected locations, so call ahead. It only comes in one size (medium), but almost all of the pizzeria’s toppings are available. And it tastes as good cold as it does when it’s fresh from the oven. Buckhead Pizza Co. (buckheadpizzaco.com) is another good option; its crust is slightly heavier, but there are a variety of toppings to choose from. If you’re craving pasta, head to Saba (saba-restaurant.com), which has a selection of gluten-free appetizers, salads and pastas that come with savory sauces like lamb vindaloo and alfredo. Figo (figopasta.com), with multiple locations, has a gluten-free pasta menu. Ecco (ecco-atlanta.com), which is best-known for its flatbread pizzas, is an easy place for celiac patients to eat, as well. The waitstaff is so knowledgeable about the menu of tapas-style plates, creating a custom gluten-free meal is a breeze. And they make one of the best flourless chocolate cakes in the city.

Steak and seafood

Outback Steakhouse (outback.com) on Crossville Road in Roswell is the only Georgia location with a gluten-free menu. It even offers safe versions of classic appetizers like the bloomin’ onion and coconut shrimp. Ted’s Montana Grill (tedsmontanagrill.com) also has a special menu for gluten-intolerants and a knowledgeable staff that can advise on the contents of sauces and marinades.

Southern cooking

Two staples of Southern cooking — rice and corn — are perfectly safe for people with celiac disease. Great news, because life without grits would be a very sad thing. South City Kitchen (southcitykitchen.com), which made it OK for business people to eat grits at lunch, has a menu full of New South classics that will fill your belly without making it hurt.

Latin flair

Every once in a while it’s a drag even having to ask for a gluten-free menu. That’s why Fuego Mundo (fuegomundo.com) is such a breath of fresh air. Every entree and side at this South American grill not is gluten- and dairy-free. The entire menu is an extension of the owners’ belief that certain foods, eaten together, will make you feel better and be better for you.

Sweet stuff

Craving cookies and breads? Sally’s Bakery (sallysbakery.com) in Sandy Springs offers chocolate cookies to die for, fresh loaves of bread and pizza crusts; just phone ahead if you want to order in bulk or if a holiday is coming up, because they bake limited quantities. Southern Sweets Bakery (southernsweets.com) in Decatur offers a magical assortment of cakes, including a gluten-free chocolate galette that will make your toes tingle, and standard vanilla and chocolate cakes that are perfect for birthday parties. Whole Foods’ gluten-free bakehouse (in the freezer section) offers frozen goodies such as chocolate chip muffins, apple pies and English muffins. And at Kroger and Publix, look for gluten-free cake and brownie mixes from Betty Crocker and gluten-free Bisquick for biscuits and pancakes that are light, fluffy and won’t make you feel deprived at all.

Mobile resources

If you’d like to know more about celiac disease, visit the Celiac Disease Foundation’s website at celiac.org. “The View” co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck has written a book about her life with the illness, The G-Free Diet (gfreediet.com), which includes tips about eating out and finding gluten-free cosmetics. A series of iPhone apps — “Is That Gluten-Free?” and “Is That Gluten-Free: Eating Out” — are a handy way to know at a glance whether common items at the grocery store or fast-food restaurant are safe to consume. Both are available on iTunes.