Annual Checks - What you need in a blood test

Minding Me, Gluten Free 2024

Iron

People with coeliac disease are often low in iron when they are diagnosed but some people can still have problems later on. This can be due to not eating enough iron or there may be a tiny bit of gluten coming in somewhere that is making it hard for your body to absorb iron. You can start to feel the effects of low iron quite quickly with slightly lower energy as well as problems concentrating. People often put up with these symptoms for years before getting checked. Don’t wait! Get your iron checked every year as part of looking after your coeliac disease. Ask your GP to check Haemoglobin (which is the iron in your blood) and your ferritin (which helps to see what your body’s stores of iron are like). If either of these are low, do check in with your dietitian to see if you are eating enough iron or if you might be getting some hidden gluten.

Vitamin D

You need vitamin D for healthy bones and this is another nutrient that can be low in coeliac disease. Quite often people are diagnosed with coeliac disease after first finding out that they have low vitamin D. vitamin D helps you to absorb calcium and keep bones strong and healthy. Osteoporosis is more common in coeliac disease which is why it’s important to keep checking your vitamin D. Do make sure you are taking your Vitamin D supplement every day – 15 micrograms per day for adults and children 13 and over; children aged 1-4 need 5 micrograms; children from 5 to 12 need 10 micrograms.

B Vitimins

Folate (or folic acid) and vitamin B12 can also be low in people with coeliac disease. Being low in B12 or folate can cause anaemia, fatigue, loss of concentration, and nerve damage. The nerve damage can become permanent if it is not discovered soon enough. This is why it’s important to keep checking these vitamins every year.

Thyroid

The genes that cause coeliac disease are the same genes that cause thyroid disease – especially underactive thyroid. Your thyroid controls you metabolism so when it is low you get tired, cold, constipated, you may gain weight and you may lose hair. This is very easily treated which is why we recommend that you get your thyroid checked every year once you have coeliac disease. Some recent research suggests that being diagnosed with coeliac disease and starting a strict gluten free diet may help to reduce your chances of developing other autoimmune disease including underactive thyroid.

Coeliac Bloods

A blood test called a tTG is used to help diagnose coeliac disease but it’s also one way to help check if you are eating some gluten. Getting your tTGs checked every year is useful as part of monitoring how you are doing when it comes to coeliac disease. It doesn’t entirely reflect what is going on in your gut, but it can give you some guidance about it. It’s not unusual for people to accidentally eat gluten because the recipe for their favourite food changed or there was suddenly gluten on site and they hadn’t realised. Do check your food list every year when it comes out to make sure your favourite foods are still gluten free!

DXA or Bone Scan

People who are diagnosed with coeliac disease as adults should have a bone scan around the time that they are diagnosed. If you haven’t had this, do talk to your GP. After that, you definitely don’t need a regular bone scan unless your GP recommends it.

Osteoporosis is more common in people with coeliac disease – and it seems to be more common in people who seem to have milder symptoms when they do eat gluten. Why? Because people who are very sick after they eat gluten, strictly avoid it. Whereas people who get very mild reactions, tend to eat more gluten and this is affecting their bone health in the long-term. Remember: there is no such thing as “slight or severe” coeliac, there are only slight or severe *symptoms* to coeliac disease. Stay gluten free to be sure.

So, what is your annual checklist?