What we know about coeliac disease as Rebecca Adlington diagnosed with condition

Rebecca Adlington has called on the government to help raise awareness of coeliac disease after revealing she has been diagnosed with the condition.

The Team GM Olympic swimmer, 36, shared shared a video clip to Coeliac UK’s Instagram account on Wednesday (26 March) revealing details of the condition and highlighting a petition, given to the government, which highlight some of the difficulties those living with the disease face in obtaining prescriptions to manage the condition.

The swimmer and BBC Sports presenter shared that she was “newly diagnosed with coeliac disease” and had quickly learnt the importance of gluten-free prescriptions, but explained that in some areas these prescriptions are being cut.

She went on to encourage others to get behind the petition to protect gluten-free prescriptions which has now been handed to the government having received 22,826 signatures.

Coeliac disease is a condition where the immune system attacks a person’s tissues when they consume gluten – which is a protein naturally found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye – damaging the small intestine, so they are unable to absorb nutrients.

When a person with coeliac disease consumes gluten, they may experience symptoms like diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, and fatigue.

Here's what we know about coeliac disease in the UK

According to the charity Coeliac UK, the disease is a serious autoimmune condition caused by a reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, which is included in many everyday foods. It is not an allergy.

When someone with coeliac disease eats gluten, their immune system reacts and causes damage to the gut resulting in a range of symptoms, some of which can be very severe, significantly affecting daily life.

While the condition affects one in 100 people, only 36% of people having been clinically diagnosed, which means there is an estimated 500,000 people living in the UK who are experiencing symptoms.

While figures show the incidence of coeliac disease has increased over the last two decades, experts believe the increase is due to better diagnosis, rather than more people developing the condition.

What are the symptoms of coeliac disease?

Symptoms of coeliac disease can be recurrent, persistent or unexplained.

They may include:

• neurological issues such as numbness in the hands or feet

• abdominal symptoms such as diarrhoea and bloating.

As the symptoms can be so wide ranging, it’s possible to attribute them to another cause, or in the case of patients with existing conditions, it can be overlooked.

In fact, one in four people with coeliac disease has previously been treated for or misdiagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) prior to diagnosis of coeliac disease.

That could help to explain why the average length of time taken for an adult to be diagnosed with the disease from the onset of symptoms is an incredible 13 years.

What causes coeliac disease?

One common misconception, according to the Association of UK Dieticians (BDA) is that coeliac disease is thought to be a genetic condition with an onset within the early years of life.

However, coeliac disease can onset at any point through the lifespan and in fact more than 50% of people are diagnosed above the age of 40 in the UK.

While 40% of the population have the genes associated with coeliac disease, not all develop the disease, and it can manifest at any age.

Studies show that if someone in a family has the condition, there is a one in 10 chance of a close relative developing the disease.

More females assigned at birth tend to be diagnosed than those designated male at birth.

People with type 1 diabetes are on average six times more likely to have coeliac disease compared with the general population. This increases to 10 times for children.

What is the treatment for coeliac disease?

There is no cure for the condition; the only treatment is a strict gluten free diet for life.

Coeliac UK explains that if a gluten free diet is not followed, the disease can lead to nutritional deficiencies and other complications such as osteoporosis, anaemia, fertility problems and in some rare cases small bowel lymphoma.

Coeliac UK recommends learning which foods are naturally gluten-free:

• Pulses (peas, beans and lentils)

Help and support

Coeliac UK is a UK charity for people with coeliac disease. Its website has useful resources, including information about a gluten-free diet, local groups, volunteering and ongoing campaigns.

You can also call the Coeliac UK helpline 0333 332 2033, open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm.

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