Coeliac disease is caused by gluten intolerance. A strict gluten-free diet is the only treatment & will need to be followed for life to reduce the risk of long term complications such as osteoporosis and gastrointestinal malignancies.
What is Gluten? Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Some people are also sensitive to oats.
Coeliac disease is not an allergy. It's an auto-immune disease, which means that the body produces antibodies, triggered by the gluten, that attack its own tissues. This damages the villi, which are small finger like projections which line gut. The villi become flattened, thereby reducing the area of bowel available to absorb nutrients from the diet.
What are the symptoms? Although coeliac disease is a life-long condition, people may get diagnosed at any age. Symptoms include.
Weight loss
Diarrhoea
constipation
Bloating
Nausea
Wind
Mouth ulcers
Headaches
Skin problems
Bone and joint pain
Anaemia
Some patients with coeliac disease have no gastrointestinal symptoms, but this does not reflect the level of damage in the gut so keeping to a life-long gluten-free diet is still necessary to avoid long term complications.
Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) is a skin condition caused by gluten intolerance. Even though gastrointestinal symptoms may not be present, most people with DH have gut inflammation. The main treatment is again a strict gluten-free diet and most effective in the long term, although drug treatment may be needed initially.
How can EatatEase help? If you have coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis Eatatease can provide a comprehensive dietary assessment undertaken by a UK registered dietitian via the e-consultation. More general advice, including menu plans, are available on the our website.
For a more comprehensive explanation of coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis, including dietary advice consult an Eatatease dietitian.
Get PERSONALLY tailored diet advice about Coeliac disease from one of our registered dietitians!
