Celiac Disease

You’ve seen countless doctors and have finally received a diagnosis of celiac disease. You can breathe a sigh of relief now that you know what causes your symptoms.

But dealing with celiac disease can also feel confusing and overwhelming. You’re faced with lifelong changes. And you may not know where to begin.

A gastroenterologist can help you manage your condition and restore your digestive health.

This page will first answer the question, what is celiac disease? We’ll also discuss the potential causes and signs of celiac disease. Lastly, we’ll explore the treatment of celiac disease and outline strategies that can improve treatment success.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack the small intestine’s inner lining. This results in damage to the villi — tiny, hairlike projections that absorb nutrients. The destruction of the villi can lead to nutrient malabsorption.

But the villi in the small intestine are not damaged permanently. Healing can occur after eliminating foods that contain gluten from your diet. But the time it takes to recover can vary from weeks to months, depending on the intestinal damage.

Celiac disease occurs as a result of an immune system malfunction in response to the digestion of gluten. But the reason why this happens is not yet known.

Genetic predisposition may lead to the development of celiac disease. Celiac disease is hereditary and often runs in families. You have an increased risk of celiac disease if you have a parent, child, or sibling with the disease.

Environmental factors may also play a role in the development of celiac disease. But the causes of celiac disease are not yet fully understood.

Celiac disease can cause symptoms that impact more than just your digestive health. Over 200 signs of celiac disease may affect the digestive system or other parts of the body.

Signs of celiac disease may include:

• Diarrhea
• Yellow, foul-smelling stools
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Migraines
• Arthritis
• Osteopenia
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Skin rash
• Depression
• Canker sores
• Miscarriage

In some cases, people with celiac disease may not have any symptoms. But they still experience damage to the small intestine when consuming gluten.

Celiac disease is often misunderstood due to the various symptoms associated with it. Shockingly, over 80% of people with celiac disease do not receive a diagnosis.

Untreated celiac disease causes damage to the small intestine. This prevents the absorption of nutrients and can lead to serious medical complications.

Potential complications of celiac disease include:

• Diabetes
• Malnutrition
• Small bowel cancer
• Intestinal lymphoma
• Lactose intolerance
• Thyroid disease
• Seizures
• Osteoporosis
• Infertility

You can prevent the development of medical complications by monitoring your symptoms and following a strict treatment plan.

There is no known cure for celiac disease. But you can control your symptoms on a gluten-free diet. Starting a gluten-free diet can feel daunting, especially if you need to give up some of the foods you love. But there are many gluten-free alternatives to choose from.

Below, we’ll highlight common foods that contain gluten and strategies you can use to stay gluten-free.

Foods That Contain Gluten

Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. It helps hold foods together. Many types of foods contain gluten unless they’re specifically made with gluten-free grains.

Foods that contain gluten may include:

• Bread
• Cereal
• Beer
• Baked goods
• Imitation meat
• Pasta
• Salad dressings
• Sauces
• Lunchmeats
• Candy

Gluten can also hide in other products such as medication, vitamins, and supplements.

What Is Gluten-Free?

Foods that don’t contain gluten are often labeled “gluten-free.” Products with this label must have less than 20 parts per million of gluten, which is the lowest amount of gluten that is measurable in foods. Most people with celiac disease can tolerate this amount of gluten without any side effects.

Gluten-free grain alternatives include:

• Amaranth
• Arrowroot
• Buckwheat
• Corn
• Flax
• Rice
• Millet
• Quinoa
• Sorghum
• Soy
• Tapioca
• Teff

Make sure to read the ingredient labels of foods to identify if they contain gluten. The same facility may process gluten-free foods and wheat, which can lead to cross-contamination. Cross-contamination, even in minor amounts, can cause symptoms of celiac disease.

Other strategies to avoid cross-contamination include:

• Keep gluten-free foods in a separate area from foods that contain gluten
• Clean cooking surfaces and dishes thoroughly
• Use separate toasters for gluten-free and gluten-containing foods
• Call ahead at restaurants to see if they can accommodate your dietary needs

Celiac disease is a lifelong condition that needs close monitoring. The only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Straying from this diet plan can worsen symptoms and harm your health.

Dr. Sameer Islam is a gastroenterologist and West Texas, native. He provides tangible steps to help you stick to your treatment plan and improve your digestive health.

If you have concerns about celiac disease and live in Lubbock, Texas, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.