Celiac disease is the body’s inability to tolerate foods containing gluten, a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, rye and oats. If left untreated, this condition can cause more than just discomfort, leading to anemia and other long-term concerns.
If you have celiac and eat something with gluten, your body has an abnormal immune response that can eventually damage the inside of the small intestine so it cannot properly absorb important nutrients from the food you eat. This can cause anemia, osteoporosis and, in children, slower growth and weakened bones.
While we’re not entirely certain what causes this immune system response to gluten, researchers believe it’s a genetic immune system problem. That means if you have a close family member with celiac disease, you’re more likely to get it yourself.
The world has become much more accessible to people on gluten-free diets, with many options added to supermarket shelves and restaurant menus. Our team supports your transition to this eating pattern by providing recipes, tips and help reading food labels.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Symptoms of celiac disease can come and go based on what you’re eating. Sometimes symptoms can be mild and manageable but other times they can be severe enough to affect your daily life.
Celiac symptoms include:
- Gas and bloating.
- Stomach pain.
- Diarrhea or other bowel movement changes.
- Weight loss.
- Exhaustion.
- Weakness.
- Neuropathy, which is tingling, numbness or pain in the hands or feet.
The first part of any appointment with us is a thorough physical exam and chat about your symptoms. To help us diagnose your condition, we may also ask for:
- Blood tests. We’re looking for the presence of certain antibodies produced by the immune system in people with celiac disease.
- Endoscopy. A specialist uses a special scope to look inside your small intestine and take tissue samples for testing. The tissue is examined for inflammation and other signs of celiac.
Based on test results, we may put you on a gluten-free diet. If your symptoms go away and a follow-up check for antibodies is normal, we can confirm you have the disease.
Treatment Options
Treatment for celiac disease is a special diet that removes all foods containing gluten. This includes avoiding anything with wheat, barley, rye, triticale and oats, plus beer unless it is gluten-free.
Our nutritionists can help you navigate a gluten-free lifestyle, tipping you off to things like medicine and vitamins that can contain gluten.
We will also address any related nutritional deficiencies by adding vitamins and other supplements to your routine.