Coeliac NZ warmly welcomes everyone to this year’s exciting annual conference in Auckland, the theme being “Living Coeliac Safe-Challenges and Successes”. The conference will be of interest to the general public as well as health professionals. For the first time, delegates will also be able to attend the Gluten Free Food Festival.
Knowledge of coeliac disease continues to evolve, challenging health professionals to keep up to date. Therefore our expert medical and dietetic panel will have a plenary session (for doctors, dietitians, nutritionists, and other health professionals). Topics include atypical presentations, monitoring after diagnosis, and dietetic considerations of the gluten-free diet. There will be ample time for discussion with a Q&A session afterward.
The changing face of coeliac disease also challenges those of us with coeliac disease, particularly as the increased cost of living impacts us financially and psychologically. The main conference which is open to all, has presentations similar to the medical session but with a different focus. It will also look at the medical and dietetic management of nonresponsive coeliac disease in a subgroup of patients who do not respond normally, presented by a husband and wife team!
Mental well-being is vital to how we live with coeliac disease which can also present with distressing psychological and neurological symptoms. This fascinating topic will be presented by a clinical psychologist who has an integrative approach to coping with this condition. Similarly, a physiotherapist explains how our breathing is affected by coeliac disease and how breathing exercises can help to reduce stress.
We are grateful to our medical experts, Bob Anderson and Jason Tye-Din from Australia who will give a “fireside” discussion of the latest research and trends including the future of the gluten-free diet and clinical trials. We all hold out hope that the gluten-free diet will become less burdensome in the future!
In a Q&A session, attendees will have the opportunity to pick the collective brains of the Coeliac NZ Medical Advisory Panel. This is a highly valued part of the conference. Later on, the Medical Panel will also give a discussion on “the lived experience of coeliac disease”, allowing individuals to ask questions that relate to day-to-day living with coeliac disease.
I encourage health professionals to attend the full-day of Conference events, as it will enhance their understanding of a more holistic approach to coeliac disease.
For the general public, the wide-ranging topics will certainly fill in knowledge gaps, and give you strategies to better safely manage coeliac disease.
You can enjoy both the Conference and the Festival by purchasing your early-bird ticket today. Tickets to the Conference will receive free and exclusive entry into the Gluten Free Food Festival an hour before the general conference starts from 9.00 am until 10 am and then again during the lunch break, so you don’t have to choose one or the other!
Article provided by Coeliac New Zealand Honorary Patron, Dr. Simon Chin