Which advice would you give to someone who has just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease?

See some advice from people with experience in Celiac Disease to people who have just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease

Congratulations on taking the first step towards managing your health! Being diagnosed with Celiac Disease can be overwhelming, but with the right knowledge and support, you can lead a healthy and fulfilling life. Here are some important pieces of advice to help you navigate this new chapter:

1. Educate Yourself

Take the time to learn about Celiac Disease, its causes, symptoms, and how it affects your body. Understanding the condition will empower you to make informed decisions about your diet and lifestyle. The more you know, the better equipped you'll be to manage your health effectively.

2. Consult with a Registered Dietitian

Seeking guidance from a registered dietitian (RD) who specializes in Celiac Disease is crucial. They can help you create a personalized meal plan that ensures you're getting all the necessary nutrients while avoiding gluten-containing foods. A dietitian will also educate you about hidden sources of gluten and provide tips for dining out and grocery shopping.

3. Embrace a Gluten-Free Diet

Adopting a strict gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for Celiac Disease. This means eliminating all sources of gluten, including wheat, barley, rye, and their derivatives. Be diligent in reading food labels, as gluten can hide in unexpected products such as sauces, seasonings, and even cosmetics. Focus on consuming naturally gluten-free foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, legumes, and gluten-free grains like rice and quinoa.

4. Be Mindful of Cross-Contamination

Avoiding gluten cross-contamination is essential. Even trace amounts of gluten can trigger symptoms and damage your intestines. Use separate cooking utensils, cutting boards, and toasters for gluten-free foods. Be cautious when dining out, as shared fryers or cooking surfaces can contaminate your meal. Communicate your dietary needs clearly to restaurant staff and ask about their gluten-free protocols.

5. Connect with Support Groups

Living with Celiac Disease can sometimes feel isolating, but you're not alone. Seek out local or online support groups where you can connect with others facing similar challenges. Sharing experiences, tips, and recipes can provide a sense of community and make your journey easier. Additionally, these groups often stay up-to-date with the latest research and can offer valuable insights.

6. Stay Positive and Patient

Adjusting to a gluten-free lifestyle can be frustrating at times, especially when faced with social situations or cravings for your favorite gluten-containing foods. Remember to stay positive and patient with yourself. It may take time to fully adapt, but with practice, it will become second nature. Focus on the delicious gluten-free options available to you and the positive impact this change will have on your health.

7. Regularly Monitor Your Health

Continue to work closely with your healthcare team to monitor your health and manage any potential complications. Regular check-ups, blood tests, and follow-up appointments are essential to ensure your body is healing and responding well to the gluten-free diet. If you experience persistent symptoms or new health concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor.

8. Be Prepared for Travel and Social Events

Traveling and attending social events can present challenges for individuals with Celiac Disease. Plan ahead by researching gluten-free options at your destination and packing safe snacks for the journey. When attending gatherings, communicate your dietary needs to the host or bring a gluten-free dish to share. With proper preparation, you can enjoy these experiences without compromising your health.

9. Keep Up with Research

Celiac Disease research is constantly evolving, and new treatments or therapies may emerge in the future. Stay informed about the latest advancements by following reputable sources, reading medical journals, and attending conferences or webinars. Being up-to-date will empower you to make informed decisions about your health and potentially benefit from emerging treatments.

10. Take Care of Your Emotional Well-being

Living with a chronic condition like Celiac Disease can sometimes take a toll on your emotional well-being. It's important to prioritize self-care and seek support when needed. Engage in activities that bring you joy, practice stress management techniques like meditation or yoga, and consider talking to a therapist or counselor who can help you navigate the emotional aspects of your diagnosis.

Remember, you have the power to live a healthy and fulfilling life with Celiac Disease. By educating yourself, seeking support, and embracing a gluten-free lifestyle, you can effectively manage your condition and thrive. Stay positive, be patient, and never hesitate to reach out for help when needed. You've got this!

Diseasemaps

Posted May 8, 2017 by JJHK 1050

Začít jíst bezlepkovou stravu, bez pšenice, ječmene, ovsa a žita

Posted May 27, 2017 by Lucy Baudysova 2440

Join a local support group or an online group. Talk with others who have celiac disease and who have been living with celiac disease after diagnosis for several years.

Posted May 31, 2017 by FlorenceK 2545

Don't be disheartened by the idea of going gluten free. Try and eat as much natural food such as fruit & vegetables. Try to avoid the "free from" sections of the supermarket as much as possible, these foods are loaded with sugar & fat. Make them treats more than staples. Read labels carefully, always read labels for allergens.

Posted Sep 4, 2017 by Emyr 2500

Try to stay positive even when glutened. Network with other celiacs and join a support group. As soon as I was diagnosed the attitude I took was: as medical conditions go it's not the worst thing to happen. My condition is controlled by being careful what I eat. I don't have to take any medication for it and outside of food I can have a perfectly normal life. If you keep that in your mind it won't feel too bad. Get used to reading the ingredients on all packaged foods, even the ones that seem safe, and check that the label doesn't say things like "may contain" or "packed in a facility that handles" gluten on a different part of the label to the allergens and ingredients.

Posted Sep 11, 2017 by Eamon 2500

This can be a daunting change in your life. Seek out support in other Celiacs and friends/family. Practice reading labels to see where gluten may be hidden or labeled as something other than wheat, eye, or barley.

Posted Sep 12, 2017 by JJinPA 2070

Get online and join some facebook group support. Watch some youtube videos and look at blogs. If you have a local in-person support group go to it. they are very helpful.

Posted Nov 12, 2017 by Stephanie 2690

Be positive everything will be ok

Posted Jan 28, 2019 by Iveta 4700

Stay away from dairy for a few weeks until your villi heal. Avoid restaurants when ever possible. Purchase a NIMA tester to test your food. Don't buy a lot of gluten free substitute products like cookies - they have fewer vitamins and more sugar.

Posted Jun 21, 2019 by mcbphd1 2500

Translated from spanish Improve translation

As you do a life as normal as possible, to learn to eat things without gluten, and you can inquire in any celiac association, where guide and inform very well. There are increasingly more gluten-free products and more bars and restaurants prepared for celiac patients.

Posted Feb 23, 2017 by Ana 1111

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If I had everything gluten-free is at your fingertips, you would not have to give any advice.
Currently, it is unknown all of the disease... the company does not know anything practically and falling the world over... Advice? Subscribe to your Association that they give you the updated list of food... and that, if there is a psychologist of the SS, they're going to accept his new condition of celiac...
Otherwise, I think that in the network all is not as bad or as misleading. Of all there is to it.
I was 4 years old when I was diagnosed and it was my mother who truly did it all alone. I would have liked that, would have had some support from people who are prepared.
So, perhaps my mother would not have thought that I was cured with 12 years.

Posted Feb 23, 2017 by Merche 1187

Translated from portuguese Improve translation

Seek counseling and take care of your diet, the more normal life.

Posted Mar 29, 2017 by Renato 1260

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Calm! It is not the end of the world!
Your relationship with food will change, but it does not mean that it is for the worse. It is just different. In the beginning it will seem that everything has gluten, you go wrong diet, you will find that just a little won't hurt (but it does, see?). Only that after, you will be sure that it is much better to live with a diagnosis that barely move.

Posted Mar 30, 2017 by nessarrpp 1050

Translated from french Improve translation

See a dietician for the diet and contact the Afdiag it is the French association. Don't be afraid to make errors in plan it is like this that we learn.

Posted May 26, 2017 by Mathilde 1170

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First of all stay calm, read about,
Seek to know the foods and ingredients allowed, to share with your friends and family and to face the changes of habits of the heart open.

Posted May 29, 2017 by Claudecir 1140

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Have a lot of patience, you will have to explain the same thing many times. Even to the same people. You can make your body change, I changed, I changed the hair (I ruffled a lot!), the skin was very smooth and fine and now are not, although now I don't have dermatitis), engordé (a lot!, but it was very very thin). Disappeared my anemia, I changed up the mood!
You should be aware of, even the most absurd things are gluten (tea, spices, lentils!) and little by little you'll learning. You will spend hours doing the buying that before you did in 30 minutes, because now you have to read all the labels or look for the labels "gluten-free". It will hurt the pocket (it's quite expensive) and perhaps you choose to find bread recipes on the internet (there are thousands, is a matter of "trial and error"), but at least it's a disease that is not treated with drugs. You can use pre-bioticos or pro-bioticos to recover when you have a crisis, say that help to regenerate the intestinal flora.

Posted Aug 30, 2017 by Vanesa 1500

Translated from spanish Improve translation

First of all, go to a association for sick celiacs because that is where we will teach you many things you don't know.
Be extremely careful with cross contamination.
Learn a lot about the issue in order not to make mistakes and try to improve as fast as possible.
Do not rely on the labeling which is why it is important to approach reading the food that is most reliable for a sick celiac.
Avoid as far as possible to eat in restaurants because it can be cross-contamination.

Posted Aug 30, 2017 by Liliana Rascon Estrada 900

Translated from spanish Improve translation

For someone newly diagnosed the first thing I would say is that little by little they are going to accustom you to learn well that is the disease to know how to manage yourself, don't worry but be concerned. There is a lot of misinformed people and will listen to all, that is why it is important to be well informed; and that if you follow the gluten-free diet strictly is going to be a person totally normal

Posted Sep 4, 2017 by Mónica 1900

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That you take it easy, now everything is super well explained, that there is a lot of help with the internet, and that will get used

Posted Sep 7, 2017 by Elena 1600

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To change his habits and to follow the gluten-free diet without isolating themselves from the company

Posted Sep 14, 2017 by Karima 5050

Translated from portuguese Improve translation

Calm , patience and a lot of determination

Posted Sep 18, 2017 by Adriele 1000

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Consult a nutritionist, well-read the labels, know what products may contain gluten and those that can contaminate. Such as pet food, soap, shampoo, is in many food.

Posted Oct 3, 2017 by Cristina 1000

Translated from portuguese Improve translation

My advice is: work acceptance, don't isolate yourself, seek support, get to know groups of people who have the same disease; to study the disease; download brand lists of safe products or app to assist. Pay attention to the frames of binge eating that you may have (for every food restriction generates compulsion), and you should seek help from professional nutritionists, psychologist's and medical.Talk to people about it, report your experience. Follow firm, knowing that this restriction is necessary for the well-being and health, therefore, it's worth it. Take care of yourself.

Posted Oct 23, 2017 by Giulia 2550

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I would tell her that from this day forward q her life will change for the better, since we will harm our body and cause many illnesses and pass on the healthy.
I would say that the beginning of the diet it will be the beginning of new discoveries and friendships as the question of power will select friends true.
I would say also that it is perfectly possible to achieve excellence in the crazy alchemy gastronomic

Posted Oct 30, 2017 by Andreia l C cernach 1000

Translated from spanish Improve translation

Learn a lot about the disease, participate in social networks where there are communities of people with celiac disease to resolve general enquiries (the health only with the doctor),get used to always read the labels of the products. You can eat almost all , but preparing one or buying certified products. Not to do the case when another person says "as a little , if you dont want to do wrong" or "poor can't eat anything" because that is not true.

Posted Nov 2, 2017 by danay 2850