Diagnosing celiac disease can be tricky due to the main symptom, a gluten allergy, being hard to detect. Since a great deal of foods contain gluten, it can be hard to narrow down if that is the true culprit of someone’s sickness. However, if you are officially diagnosed with celiac disease, it can be challenging to adjust to the lifestyle changes you’ll need to make to live a healthy life.
But with the proper guidance and support from an experienced, empathetic gastroenterologist, you can improve your quality of life, minimize intestinal damage, and drastically decrease GI discomfort. Keep reading to learn more about living with celiac disease.
Key Takeaways
- Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by an acute gluten allergy that damages the small intestine and the nutrient-absorbing villi within, leading to malabsorption of nutrients.
- Symptoms include digestive discomfort, weight loss, skin rashes, severe vitamin deficiencies, anemia, and more.
- Changing your lifestyle requires diligence, but following a strict gluten-free diet will drastically improve your quality of life.
- Experimenting with new foods and cooking techniques and finding the proper support are just some of the ways you can improve your quality of life after a celiac disease diagnosis.
How Does Celiac Disease Impact Your Body?
Autoimmune diseases cause our bodies to wage war on themselves inadvertently. With celiac disease, the immune system attacks the tiny villi that line your small intestine whenever you consume foods that contain gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. What are villi? Good question.
Villi are little nodes that absorb the nutrients in your food so your body can put it to good use. With enough damage to your villi over time, they can no longer absorb the nutrients, leading to malnutrition, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, infertility, and other health issues.
What Are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?
As we mentioned earlier, diagnosing celiac disease can be tricky. Its symptoms can point to a myriad of conditions. If you suspect you have celiac disease, it’s vital to seek professional help for accurate testing and guidance.
- Abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintentional weight loss
- Bone or joint pain
- Low muscle tone
- Abnormal periods
- Headaches
- Brittle nails
- Dermatitis herpetiformis (also known as “blistering rash”)
- Mouth ulcers
What Are Some Tips for Living with Celiac Disease?
With the right approach, you can live a thriving life after your celiac disease diagnosis. Here are some tips and lifestyle changes you can try to improve your quality of life as you transition to a gluten-free diet:
- Food Label Vigilance
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and other grains, so it’s in many food items. The more obvious gluten-rich foods are bread, pasta, cereals, crackers, and beer. However, gluten often hides in unexpected places, like soup thickeners, sauces, processed meats and dairy products, wines, and sweets.
Learning to read food labels carefully in this new phase of your life. Here are some other phrases that indicate a food contains gluten and you should not consume it:
- Malt
- Triticale
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
- May contain (wheat, barley, or rye).
- Contains (wheat, barley, or rye).
Some people who do not have celiac disease merely need to avoid ingredients that for sure contain gluten because they have another type of gluten intolerance. Celiacs (people with celiac disease), on the other hand, must attempt to avoid foods with potential gluten contamination.
This difficult task of avoiding gluten contamination involves strictly consuming foods from the few companies that claim their products are made in a gluten-contamination-conscious facility—especially those certified by the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) or NCF (National Celiac Foundation).
- Discover Gluten-Free Alternatives
It may feel like gluten is in everything you love to eat, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with figuring out what is and isn’t gluten-free. But with time, patience, and familiarity, you’ll be able to remember what to avoid and what is safe to eat.
Many grains and flours are actually naturally gluten-free, allowing you to diversify your cooking and baking.
- Rice, quinoa, corn, and most oats are safe staples for your pantry.
- Almond, coconut, and chickpea flours are excellent alternatives for baking.
- Arrowroot and tapioca starch are good thickening agents.
Additionally, try finding a gluten-free cookbook for inspiration and guidance on delicious meals that meet your dietary needs.
- Try New Restaurants
Again, eating with a celiac disease diagnosis can feel daunting, but in our modern, progressive era, you can find a restaurant that caters to almost anything.
Consider it an adventure to try new restaurants that specialize in gluten-free cuisine or have dedicated gluten-free menus. But always remember to ask about cross-contamination to ensure your meal is safe.
If you’re still wary, consider bringing gluten test strips to detect gluten in food and beverages. This can help give you peace of mind and help you enjoy dining out better.
Celiac Disease and Quality of Life: How Can RMC Help?
Living with celiac disease comes with its own set of unique challenges, but you’ve got this! With the right lifestyle changes, you can improve your quality of life and enjoy excellent, delicious food. Embracing a gluten-free diet and exploring new culinary options can help you manage your diagnosis and stay healthy.
If you’re experiencing symptoms or need guidance on living gluten-free, our gastroenterologists at RMC are here to help. Get in touch today for a comprehensive diagnosis and the support you need.