Coeliac Awareness Month
1 in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease, but only 36% are diagnosed. That leaves a staggering 500,000 people suffering with unexplained symptoms. Our campaign for Coeliac Awareness Month 2024 aims to find those people and get them on the road to recovery. Find out how, and what you can do to help.
Coeliac disease is different for everyone – not only in symptoms, but its effect on people. Whether you experience gut issues or anaemia, the strain of unexplained health problems takes a toll. So, for the whole month of May we’re spreading the word about coeliac disease and the emotional journey of diagnosis. With a range of activity, we’ll be getting people to ask themselves ‘Is it coeliac disease?’ and take our online self-assessment.
There’s loads going on throughout the month of May. From a Facebook live cookalong with our Ambassador Becky Excell, to competitions. We'll be providing useful information about coeliac disease and gluten free too. Plus keep an eye out for an amazing on pack donation from one of our Crossed Grain certified brands, BFree. 20p for every pack of their stone baked pitta breads sold in May will be donated to support Coeliac UK.
#CoeliacStories
We’re shining the spotlight on five amazing case studies: Mita, Anne, Joshua (and his mum Dawn), Joshua’s brother Joe, and Tim. They all had unique experiences before their diagnosis of coeliac disease, which they bravely shared with us as part of our campaign. Watch their videos to find out more about them, and we’d love you to get involved too! By sharing your story on social media using #CoeliacStories we can spread the message about coeliac disease even further.
Raise awareness in your community
As well as raising awareness online, you can sign up for a pack to use in your community. Packs contain posters, leaflets and postcards with information about coeliac disease and how to get help. Why not hold an awareness raising event at work or school? Sign up for a pack today and let us know what you’re planning so that we can support you with the materials you need.
Other ways to get involved
Check out if you there’s any volunteer activity going on near you – our Local Groups and Local Meet Up hosts are planning a range of activities across the country. Or join in with an event hosted by our amazing ambassador, Becky Excell.
Should I be tested for coeliac disease?
The symptoms of coeliac disease are wide ranging, sometimes making it harder to spot. If you’re consistently experiencing any of the symptoms below, then take our online self-assessment and see if you should be tested. The assessment asks a series of questions based on the NICE guidelines for diagnosis of coeliac disease and gives a recommendation of whether you should go to your GP for a simple blood test. When you’ve completed the assessment, if you should be tested it gives you a letter to take to your GP.
- severe or occasional diarrhoea, excessive wind and/or constipation
- persistent or unexplained nausea and vomiting
- recurrent stomach pain, cramping or bloating
- any combination of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency
- anaemia
- tiredness
- sudden or unexpected weight loss (but not in all cases)
- mouth ulcers
- skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
- tooth enamel problems
- liver abnormalities
- unexplained subfertility (male and female)
- repeated miscarriages
- osteopenia or osteoporosis
- neurological (nerve) problems such as ataxia (loss of coordination, poor balance) and peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet)
There are also a number of conditions associated with coeliac disease including autoimmune thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, Down’s syndrome and Turner syndrome. If you have any of these conditions, you should be considered for testing for coeliac disease.
There's also a genetic link. Where 1 in 100 people have coeliac disease in the general population, if your close relative has it that changes to in 10. If someone in the family gets a positive diagnosis, the immediate family should also be tested.
