A gluten allergy involves an involuntary adverse reaction within the body to a component in wheat, rye and barley. Wheat is one of the most common food allergens that people have. According to The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, a gluten allergy is not the same thing as celiac disease, which is a digestive disorder. However if you are allergic to gluten, eating something that contains it will produce an immune system reaction. Symptoms include hives, swelling, wheezing, abdominal pain and difficulty breathing. It is important to determine if gluten is producing this type of reaction when you eat it so that you can avoid gluten containing foods in the future.
Step 1
Consult your doctor. He will go over the history of your symptoms to help you figure out if gluten is what is causing your allergic reactions. This will include discussing how long after the suspected food was eaten did the symptoms appear, any history of food allergies in your family, how much of the gluten containing food is consumed before you see a reaction and what medications you may have tried to alleviate the symptoms.
Step 2
Keep a food diary. In it you will write down what you eat, what time you ate it and when and if any symptoms appeared afterward. This is to help your doctor determine if you have a gluten allergy of if perhaps you are allergic to some other food you commonly consume. You should include what symptoms you experience because you may have a gluten intolerance, which produces discomfort in the digestive tract, but is not usually harmful like an allergy can be.
Step 3
Eliminate gluten-containing foods from your diet for a couple weeks. You will be able to notice if you are experiencing a reduction in your allergic reactions. Do this with your doctor's guidance to be sure you aren't unintentionally consuming foods that contain gluten.
Step 4
Add small amounts of the eliminated foods back into your diet with your doctor's help. Notice if you experience any allergy symptoms from these foods. If you do, your doctor will likely conclude that you have an allergy to gluten. If any serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, arise you should seek medical attention right away.
Step 5
Undergo a skin prick test and/or a blood test. If your doctor is fairly certain that gluten is producing an allergic reaction, he will order a skin prick test. This is done by scratching your arm with a needle that has been dipped in a gluten extract. He will watch for signs of allergic reaction at that location. A blood test is usually done if you are having severe allergic reactions. It looks for specific antibodies that indicate an allergy.
Things You'll Need
- Food diary
- Gluten foods and gluten free foods
