It is estimated that around 1 in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease. This means there are between 650,000 and 700,000 people in the country affected by the disease. Despite this, only 36% of people with the condition have been medically diagnosed with coeliac disease. Around 500,000 people undiagnosed is a lot of people, why is this?
What is coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder that is characterised by damage to the small intestine after the ingestion of gluten. There is no cure for the disease; the treatment for those diagnosed with coeliac disease is to remove gluten from their diet permanently. A strict gluten free diet that removes wheat, barley, and rye, as even the smallest amount of gluten ingested can cause a flare-up for those susceptible.
Why are so many people not diagnosed with coeliac disease?
There are a few reasons why there are so many people who have not yet been diagnosed with coeliac disease. For one, each person is unique, with different diets and lifestyles, different symptoms. There is a range of symptoms that could point to someone being diagnosed with coeliac disease, such as bloating, constipation, weight loss, tiredness, diarrhoea, and other physical issues. If you are suffering from one of these symptoms but not all, you might wrongly assume it is caused by something else.
It is challenging for many people, as there is often misdiagnosis by GPs due to the many symptoms that a coeliac will suffer with. Add to that long waiting times just to get an appointment, and it’s easy to see why it takes so long for people to be diagnosed with coeliac disease. These are just some of the reasons why it takes people a long time to get diagnosed with coeliac disease.
What should you do once you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease?
Once you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease, the next step is to live a gluten free life. This means removing gluten from your diet completely. There are support groups available to those looking for others who have been diagnosed, as well as many gluten free recipes that cover a whole host of foods and dishes that you might worry that you have lost forever, now you can’t ingest gluten.
Are gluten free products on prescription worth it?
Speak to your GP once you have your diagnosis, and you may be eligible for gluten free products on prescription. It isn’t available to everyone, and there are different types of gluten free products available in different parts of the country if you are eligible. You can find everything from gluten free white bread to gluten free flour mixes, gluten free pizza bases, crackers, and more. Knowing that you have everyday essentials that are ready to eat gives you great peace of mind, especially in those early moments post diagnosis. Gluten free food on prescription helps you to adhere to a gluten free diet.
