Coeliac Awareness Week: March 13-20

In Australia, Coeliac Awareness Week is March 13-20. A big issue in our country is that a large proportion of coeliac sufferers continue undiagnosed. This is far from ideal for the sufferer as it is a progressive disease, and the symptoms will continue to worsen.

Coeliac Awareness Week is all about getting people talking about their symptoms and, more importantly, taking action to get themselves checked.

What are the symptoms of Coeliacs Disease?

There are a lot of potential symptoms, and they can vary considerably in each case. Some common symptoms include

• diarrhoea
• constipation
• nausea
• vomiting
• flatulence
• cramping
• bloating
• abdominal pain
• fatigue

If you’re getting some of these symptoms then we recommend visiting your GP. There are tests for this disease which are relatively simple. You can find out more about diagnosis and lots more information at the below links.

How is Coeliac Disease treated?

Researchers are working on a cure; however, there are currently no treatments for this disease. The only option is to maintain a gluten free diet. Thankfully there are a lot of resources available for helping out coeliacs and many recipe websites dedicated to living a gluten free life. In addition, the foodservice industry has come a long way, and now there are many gluten free food offerings in cafes, restaurants, and bakeries.

Further information about Coeliac Disease

• Beginner’s Guide to Coeliac Disease
• Coeliac Australia
• Better Health Victoria
• Health Direct