So, you’ve been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. What is next? Currently there is no cure for Celiac Disease, so instead you will want to treat it by adhering to a gluten free diet for the remainder of your life.
Treatment for Celiac Disease
When gluten is removed from the diet, the small intestine will start to heal and overall health improves. Medication is not normally required. Because osteoporosis is common and may be profound in patients with newly diagnosed CD, bone density should be measured at or shortly after diagnosis. Consult your physician regarding specific nutritional supplementation to correct any deficiencies. The diagnosed celiac should have medical follow-up to monitor the clinical response to the gluten-free diet. Dietary compliance increases the quality of life and decreases the likelihood of osteoporosis, intestinal lymphoma and other illnesses associated with Celiac Disease.
Adapting to the gluten-free diet requires some lifestyle changes. Common sources of gluten are:
- All forms of wheat flour including durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn, and faro
- Rye
- Barley
- Triticale
- Oats
It is essential to read labels which are often imprecise, and to learn how to identify ingredients that may contain hidden gluten. Be aware that hidden gluten can be found in some unlikely foods such as: cold cuts, soups, hard candies, soy sauce, many low or non-fat products, even licorice and jelly beans.
Potential harmful ingredients include:
- Unidentified starch
- Modified food starch
- Binders
- Fillers
- Excipients
- Extenders
- Malt
Gluten may also be used as a binder in some pharmaceutical products. Request clarification from food and drug manufacturers when necessary.
For additional information about Celiac Disease, check out our Celiac Information page!
im taeler im 17 and i have celiac disease, i've know for about a year, and am researching more about ...
I found Heartland pasta at my local WalMart and bought the fusilli. I cooked it up and combined it ...
Dr. Osborne,
Thank you for sharing that. That makes a lot of sense and explains why I can tolerate it ...
Thanks Shirley! If I go to the event, I hope to enter something with pumpkin it it...just haven't worked out ...
