If youve just been diagnosed withceliac disease, you likely have many questions.
Here are eight you might want to ask your healthcare provider.
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How Bad Was Your Intestinal Damage?
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Damage doesnt always correlate withceliac symptomsbut could correlate with nutritional deficiencies and other health risks.
Should You Be Tested for Nutritional Deficiencies?
Your healthcare provider might consider testing to determine if youre deficient in specific nutrients.
Should You Be Scanned for Osteoporosis and Osteopenia?
Osteoporosisis a disease where bones become thinner, more brittle and easily fractured.
Inosteopenia, meanwhile, bone density is lower than normal but does not yet meet medical criteria for osteoporosis.
Should You Take Nutritional Supplements?
Many healthcare providers recommend their celiac disease patients take a multivitamin every day, and medical research supports this.
Some healthcare providers may prescribe additional supplementation to make up for nutritional shortfalls.
Can They Recommend a Dietician Who Understands Celiac Disease?
In many cases, newly diagnosed celiac patients benefit from consulting with a dietician who specializes in celiac disease.
A nutritionist can help you learn toread food labelswhile teaching you which foods are naturally gluten-free.
Can You Eat Dairy Products?
Lactose intolerance symptoms include abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhea and gas.
Testing can identify celiac patients who also are lactose-intolerant.
Should Your Family Be Tested for Celiac Disease Too?
First-degree relatives have a 1 in 22 risks of celiac over their lifetimes.
A one-time test will not be sufficient to catch all celiac cases, either.
The study authors recommended periodic repeat testing of family members, regardless of symptoms.
Celiac Disease Foundation.Diagnosis of celiac disease.
National Health Service (UK).Complications: coeliac disease.
Lungaro L, Manza F, Costanzini A, et al.Osteoporosis and celiac disease: updates and hidden pitfalls.Nutrients.
