Coeliac Awareness Week will take place from Monday 9th to Sunday 15th June 2025. This year’s theme is “Coeliac disease is different for every body.”  It focuses on the wide range of symptoms and looks to uncover the hidden, lesser-known symptoms and complications of the disease such as skin conditions including dermatitis herpetiformis, dental defects and puberty milestones in children.

Coeliac disease has been estimated to occur in up to 1% of the population and may appear at any age, including the elderly. Symptoms of coeliac disease can vary widely between individuals and may range from mild to severe. Some people may not experience noticeable symptoms, despite having intestinal damage. Diarrhoea and weight loss are usually present, but extraintestinal symptoms may occur, sometimes without any obvious gastrointestinal changes. As a result, coeliac disease may not be recognised until later in life, after the treatment of other symptoms has been managed.

Our annual Coeliac Awareness Week is crucial to raise awareness, because the condition is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Many people suffer symptoms for years without knowing they have it. Some individuals, especially children may primarily present with growth problems or delayed puberty, others may be asymptomatic but are diagnosed through family screening or complications like osteoporosis or unexplained miscarriages.

Watch out for updates in our members newsletter and on Facebook, about ways you can help raise awareness to encourage early diagnosis and reduce the stigma around following a strict gluten-free diet. Greater awareness will lead to better health outcomes for all people with coeliac disease and improve the quality of gluten-free options and clearer labelling.

If you would like to share your lived experience of coeliac disease, email: admin@coeliac.org.nz

Common symptoms of coeliac disease:

Gastrointestinal symptoms:

• Weight loss
• Diarrhoea or chronic constipation
• Flatulence and abdominal distension
• Cramping and bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatty, foul-smelling stools

Nutritional deficiencies (due to malabsorption)

• Iron deficiency anaemia (leading to fatigue and weakness)
• B12, A, D, E and K vitamin deficiency
• Osteoporosis or osteopenia (thin bones) due to calcium and vitamin D malabsorption

Neurological symptoms:

• Headaches or migraines
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• Balance problems or ataxia
• Brain fog (difficulty concentrating)

Dermatological symptoms:

• Dermatitis herpetiformis – blistering skin rash
• Easy bruising of the skin

Other symptoms 

• Depression and anxiety
• Ulcerations and/or swelling of mouth and tongue
• Infertility and recurrent miscarriages
• Muscle spasms due to low blood calcium levels
• Bone and joint pains or arthritis

The treatment of coeliac disease is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet. This helps heal the small intestine, prevent symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Talk to your health professional for advice.

A huge thank you to our CAW'25 Platinum supporters, including Tip Top Bakery, Griffin's Biscuits, FreshLife Food, Lee Kum Kee, Waitoa, Bin Inn, myFoodBag, Allergywise, NZ Bakels, The Gluten Free Shop, Ocho and Eat Choice.

Support your charity – the only not-for-profit supporting Kiwis with coeliac disease. Become part of Coeliac New Zealand now.

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