What does your gut say?
Do you suffer from diarrhoea, prolonged fatigued, bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, IBS or unexplained anaemia?
You may have Coeliac disease. 1 in 100 people in the UK have the condition but only 10-15% of these people are currently diagnosed. This means that over half a million people in the UK have Coeliac disease but don't know it.
The BDA is proud to be supporting Gut Feeling Week (13 - 19 May 2013), which aims to raise awareness of the symptoms and improve diagnosis of Coeliac disease in the UK.
The British Dietetic Association, founded in 1936, is the professional association for registered dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the nation's largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with approximately 7,000 members. The BDA is also an active trade union.
"Coeliac disease is not a faddy diet or a food allergy," said BDA spokesperson Clare Jansen. "It is an autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten which is found in wheat, barley and rye. Coeliac disease causes damage to the lining of the small intestine. Taking gluten out of your diet allows your gut to heal and your symptoms to improve."
"As the symptoms of coeliac disease are very similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the key targets of this year's Coeliac Awareness Week are to raise awareness and ensure that people are screened first for coeliac disease before a diagnosis of IBS is given. Research shows that almost 20% of people with coeliac disease were previously told they had IBS, suggesting that tens of thousands of people are not being investigated and diagnosed early enough for coeliac disease."
A simple blood test will tell you if you have it (you must be eating gluten when you have the test). If you think you may have coeliac disease speak to your GP or get in touch with Coeliac UK (www.coeliac.org.uk). Once diagnosed, coeliac disease is treated with a gluten-free diet for life. Taking gluten out of your diet allows your gut to heal and your symptoms to improve. Getting a diagnosis of coeliac disease is important to make sure you receive care such as gluten-free food on prescription and advice from a dietitian.