Once you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease, the only way to treat it effectively is to completely remove food from your diet that contains gluten. This will help to prevent any damage to the lining of your intestine and should help to resolve your symptoms. Every person is unique, and the amount of time that they continue to suffer with coeliac symptoms will differ depending on a range of factors. If you continue to ingest gluten, the symptoms will persist. The sooner you can cut gluten out, the better for your body long-term.
How long does treatment for coeliac disease take?
For most people who have been diagnosed with coeliac disease, they’ll notice an immediate improvement to their symptoms as soon as they adopt a gluten free diet. It can take a few weeks or even months for any nutritional deficiencies to be rectified and for your gut to fully heal from the damage that gluten was causing. However, this recovery time will differ from one person to another, and how long your symptoms have been present without any action being taken. This is why it is so important to be aware of your body and the impact of gluten.
Are there long-term health problems for coeliacs?
Most of the damage caused by gluten can be reversed, and if you continue to suffer with some symptoms then you may still be consuming small amounts of gluten It is important to be vigilant with how you plan your meals, be careful about cross contamination and ensure places where you go out to eat are also gluten free It is only in a small number of cases that a change in diet won’t have an impact on gut recovery and long-term health.
The importance of avoiding gluten
Once you have been diagnosed coeliac and removed gluten from your diet, there is no going back. If you have suffered with symptoms for years but haven’t spoken to your doctor,the damage may be more serious. Long-term exposure to gluten for coeliacs can cause long-term health complications such as osteoporosis, peripheral neuropathy, compromised immunity, and potentially other food intolerances.
One of the first things that you can do when you are diagnosed with coeliac disease is to find out if you qualify for a gluten free prescription. This is a fantastic way to start your journey as a coeliac, as it allows you to find gluten free alternatives to products that are staples in your diet. Depending on the part of the UK you live in, you could be entitled to gluten free products such as fresh bread, flour mixes and rolls. As a starting point, this is such a helpful thing to look into, providing you with exciting ways to plan your meals and have the full peace of mind that there is no gluten present in your prescription food. You can also begin to seek out others in the coeliac community, look for gluten free recipes and other support.