Register NOW for your chance to meet and hear from these clinicians who are experts in coeliac disease at one of the two FREE sessions at the Gluten Free Food Festival, Christchurch (included with the entry ticket).
Professor Andrew Day, Paediatric Gastroenterologist based in Christchurch, with strong clinical research and interests in coeliac disease and other gut disorders
Sophie Hall, NZ registered dietitian based in Christchurch, completing her PhD with a focus on the management of paediatric coeliac disease.
Dr Samuel Fussey, a General Practitioner living and working in Canterbury who uses his personal experience of coeliac disease to help in the diagnosis and management of his patients.
Suzanne Aitken, NZ registered dietitian and Health Promotion and Dietary Education Manager of Coeliac New Zealand
Session 1: Saturday, 10 May 2025, 10.30 am - 12.00 pm
Session 2: Saturday, 10 May 2025, 1.30 pm - 3.00 pm
Professor Andrew Day says, “Follow-up after diagnosis of coeliac disease requires establishing a gluten-free diet and correcting micronutrient deficiencies (and documenting responses to this) and reviewing any associated issues. Most recommendations would support the first review around six months after diagnosis with a check of the gluten-free diet, documenting symptomatic improvements, reviewing nutritional status, checking antibody responses, and reviewing for other issues. Beyond that, it is important to have an ongoing annual review with either a General Practitioner or specialist, particularly if symptoms persist.”
Navigating the Path Forward
Receiving a diagnosis of coeliac disease marks the beginning of a journey toward better health and well-being. Managing this condition is made easier with ongoing medical follow-up to ensure optimal outcomes and to avoid or address any potential complications. By working closely with a healthcare provider and adhering strictly to a healthy gluten-free diet, most people with coeliac disease can effectively manage their condition and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Coeliac disease is a serious medical condition that requires an individualised long-term follow-up plan to maintain health and reduce the risk of complications. The key steps that need consideration include:
Nutritional assessment and guidance are crucial components of a medical follow-up. Malabsorption due to intestinal damage can lead to deficiencies in vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. Common deficiencies in people with newly diagnosed and untreated coeliac disease include iron, calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin B12, folate and magnesium. Supplementation may be required to correct these deficiencies and correcting your diet can often solve these issues. Coeliac New Zealand recommends you talk to a dietitian about your needs as nutrient deficiencies should be diagnosed not guessed. This will ensure you are receiving all the nutrients you need to live a healthy life with coeliac disease.
Regular monitoring of symptoms and progress helps to assess the disease activity and response to treatment. Talk to your General Practitioner to arrange a complete physical examination, reviewing both gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as non-gastrointestinal symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, and the presence of dermatitis herpetiformis.
Bone health assessment in adults, especially those with a long delay in diagnosis, malabsorption of vitamins (particularly calcium and vitamin D) can increase the risk of decreased bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis). Up to 75% of adults with coeliac disease will have reduced bone mineral density at diagnosis, which can be improved with treatment, a gluten-free diet. Some people will also need specific therapy. Bone mineral density should be checked every 3-5 years for high-risk individuals and annually if on osteoporosis treatment.
Seek advice from a dietitian who is an expert in coeliac disease and the gluten-free diet. Become educated about managing the risks of cross-contamination. Coeliac New Zealand has a range of videos and resources available to help with this, too. You must understand label-reading of foods, medications, and supplements. It is also very important to focus on what you can eat rather than what you cannot eat as there is a large variety of food; that is naturally gluten free, including but not limited to fresh or frozen fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry, fish and seafood, dairy products, legumes, beans, nuts, grains and seeds. A strict, gluten-free diet heals the damage in your small intestine caused by coeliac disease. The maintenance of a healthy balanced gluten-free diet also improves symptoms and decreases the risk of developing long-term health complications.
Screening for associated conditions is also recommended following diagnosis, to rule out any associated conditions such as thyroid disorders (Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis), autoimmune liver disease or dermatitis herpetiformis, especially if persistent or recurrent symptoms are occurring.
Immediate family members of someone with coeliac disease have a 1 in 10 chance of also having coeliac disease. Family members should be screened for coeliac disease using an appropriate antibody test initially. A positive blood test, indicating coeliac disease, should be followed up by a gastroenterologist to ensure that further confirmatory tests are undertaken. It is very important that gluten remains part of your diet until after diagnosis so the test gives an accurate result. Removing gluten from your diet before diagnosis may mean you have to undertake a gluten challenge before tests are undertaken.
Immunisations- annual vaccinations for influenza are recommended. Other vaccinations may be required in some people: please talk further with your General Practitioner or specialist.
Regular exercise and sleep should be a top priority for all of us, as they are also important components of wellness. Body size is just one marker of health; other important markers include balanced eating patterns with plenty of vegetables and fruit and striving for good fitness levels.
Mental wellness. A diagnosis of coeliac disease means navigating an additional set of challenges related to adjusting to and or maintaining a gluten-free diet. It is important to remember that this is not a journey you have to take alone. Be kind to yourself, practice good breathing techniques for stress relief and relaxation. Open up to friends, family or colleagues.
Maintain your membership with Coeliac New Zealand to ensure that you are kept up to date with the most accurate and credible information on coeliac disease, the gluten-free diet and any other advances or changes. If you are not yet a member, then we encourage you to join.
We look forward to seeing you at the Gluten Free Food Festival.
Thank you to Griffin's Biscuits for sponsoring the workshops and food demonstration by Kelly Gibney.
