Treating coeliac disease

There is no cure for coeliac disease, but switching to a gluten-free diet should help control symptoms and prevent the long-term consequences of the disease.

Even if symptoms are mild or non-existent, it is still recommended to change your diet, as continuing to eat gluten can lead to serious complications.

It is important to make sure your gluten-free diet is healthy and balanced. An increase in the range of available gluten-free foods in recent years has made it possible to eat both a healthy and varied gluten-free diet.

Read more about the treatment of coeliac disease.

Screening

Currently, screening for coeliac disease is not routinely carried out in England.

It is usually only recommended for people at an increased risk of developing the condition, such as those with a family history of the disease. 

It is recommended that first-degree relatives (parents, brothers, sisters and children) of people with coeliac disease are screened.

See diagnosing coeliac disease for more information about who should be screened for coeliac disease.

Complications

Complications of coeliac disease only tend to affect people who continue to eat gluten or who have yet to be diagnosed with the condition, which can be a common problem in milder cases.

Potential long-term complications include:

osteoporosis (weakening of the bones)iron deficiency anaemiavitamin B12 and folate deficiency anaemia 

Less common and more serious complications include those affecting pregnancy, such as having a low-birth weight baby, and some types of cancers, such as bowel cancer.

Read more about the complications of coeliac disease.