Coeliac Disease
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition that leads to damage of the small intestine when minimal amounts of gluten are consumed. This condition affects 1 in 100 people in the UK.
When somebody who has coeliac disease eats gluten, their body ends up attacking itself and damaging the lining of the small intestine and this can cause a very large range of symptoms both inside and outside the gut. This gut damage can also lead to further complications if the gluten free diet is not followed correctly.
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Furthermore, not every person will respond the same way to the gluten free diet and some people can have ongoing symptoms despite following the gluten free diet.
Image: Healthy small intestine (left) versus damaged small intestine (right)
It is important to get support from a health professional well versed in coeliac disease to troubleshoot these problems and get to the root cause.
According to national UK health guidelines, coeliac disease patients should also have an annual blood tests (mainly to check for gut absorption) and an appointment with a health professional as well as check-ups for their bone health.