Living with Coeliac disease: 500,000 people in UK undiagnosed
Imagine being ill with symptoms affecting every aspect of your daily life, without actually knowing what’s wrong with you.
500,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with undiagnosed Coeliac disease, which is when the body has a serious reaction to gluten.
The charity Coeliac UK says, sometimes doctors aren’t testing for it properly, often mistaking symptoms for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
It’s now working with GPs to raise awareness and ensure more people are diagnosed.
Charlotte Humphries from Rugby was diagnosed with Coeliac disease and now runs a cake-making business for specific dietary requirements:
Coeliac disease is a common digestive condition where the small intestine becomes inflamed and unable to absorb nutrients.
It can cause a range of symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating.
Coeliac disease is caused by an adverse reaction to gluten, a dietary protein found in three types of cereal - wheat, barley and rye.
Gluten is found in any food that contains the above cereals, including - pasta, cakes, breakfast cereals, most types of bread, some sauces and some ready meals.