Celiac Disease: Treatment & Follow Up - Gluten Free Jio

Celiac Disease: Treatment & Follow Up

How much gluten is considered safe? Answer: 20 PPM (Parts Per Million)

TREATMENT FOR CELIAC DISEASE

The only treatment for Celiac disease is to go on a lifelong gluten-free diet. This may sound like an easy solution at first, but gluten unfortunately is hidden in food additives, flavorings, cosmetics, school supplies, and more. Therefore, it is more of adopting a gluten-free lifestyle.
Nutritional Concerns
At the time of diagnosis, parents and children should meet a registered dietitian who is knowledgeable about Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet. The patient and the family need to be educated regarding the negative consequences of untreated Celiac disease, including nutrition related complications such as iron deficiency, osteoporosis, and autoimmune disorders.

Safe and Unsafe Foods Infographic

Follow up Care

Frequent follow up is important to ensure that the symptoms of Celiac disease have resolved. Families often encounter conflicting information, so the diet should also be reviewed to clear up any confusion and identify any potential sources of gluten. Periodic visits for assessment of symptoms, growth, physical examination, and adherence to the gluten free diet are a must. Tissue Transglutam Mirase (TTG) should be measured after six months of starting a Gluten-free diet and then at one year intervals. A decrease in TTG indicates compliance with the diet and conversely a rise will indicate non-compliance.
Diagnosis of the disease is only the beginning, as the doctor will provide the education and support for life-long compliance to the gluten free diet. Support groups like Gluten-Free Jio are important links, which allow participation of a Celiac and encourage compliance to a gluten-free diet, preventing future complications of untreated Celiac Disease and improvement of quality of life.

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

People with non-celiac wheat sensitivity experience symptoms similar to those of Celiac Disease, which resolve when gluten is removed from their diet. However, they do not test positive for celiac disease. This is also known as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Symptoms typically appear hours or days after gluten has been ingested. Clinically, it has been recognized as less severe than celiac disease. Celiac Disease: Symptoms & Diagnosis