Coeliac Awareness week

This week is Coeliac Awareness week, supported by the charity Coeliac UK.

What is Coeliac Disease?

• A lifelong autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten
• 1 in 100 people have the condition
• Symptoms include bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, wind, constipation, tiredness, headaches, sudden or unexpected weight loss (but not in all cases), hair loss and anaemia
• Once diagnosed, it is treated by following a gluten-free diet for life
• Dermatitis herpetiformis is the skin manisfestation of coeliac disease.

This year's awareness campaign focuses on the availability of gluten-free food in shops and supermarkets.

What’s it about?

Sticking to a gluten free diet is the only treatment for coeliac disease. This campaign asks supermarkets to sign up to a "Gluten-free Guarantee" which means having eight core gluten-free items available in their stores so that you can manage your condition more easily. 

New pharmacy Gluten Free Food Service
People diagnosed with coeliac disease can receive staple food items on prescription on the NHS. There is a new service in Scotland which allows these gluten free foodstuffs to be obtained directly from the pharmacy, without having to see you GP. It's a great service and cuts out the possibility of mistakes being made with prescriptions, allows slightly more flexibility for people in terms of the products they can use and hopefully offers great service and care for people with coelliac disease.

To find out more about this service you can read about it over at NHS inform, or pop in to Barnton Pharmacy and out friendly team will answer your questions and get you set up for the gluten free food service.