Gluten is present in rye, wheat and barley, and a person who is allergic to gluten must avoid these foods to prevent a reaction. Symptoms of a gluten allergy include wheezing, tingling, hives, rash, swelling, pain in the abdomen and trouble breathing, says MayoClinic.com. You will need to consult with your doctor to find out for certain whether you are experiencing an allergy or not. This will involve several kinds of tests that will help him create a treatment plan to most effectively alleviate your symptoms. He will also go over what foods you will not be able to eat and how to be sure you are avoiding them.
Step 1
Tell your doctor about your symptoms and what foods cause them. Writing what you ate and any subsequent reactions for a couple of weeks will help your doctor better understand what is going on in terms of your health. Be sure to include amounts of food eaten because some people only experience an allergic reaction to a food when they have eaten a large amount of it. The more details you provide, the better able your doctor will be to help determine whether a gluten allergy is at play.
Step 2
Eliminate the foods you feel are causing a reaction. Do this with the help of your doctor for best results. In the case of a gluten allergy, you will need to eliminate bread, cereal, pasta, crackers, tortillas and any foods that use byproducts made from wheat, rye or barley. This will require carefully reading ingredient labels to be sure you are eliminating all traces of suspected trigger foods. You will do this for a couple weeks unless you have severe reactions to gluten foods.
Step 3
Undergo a skin prick test. When your doctor performs this test, she will place a small amount of gluten on your skin, then prick it with a needle, allowing the gluten to get under your skin. She will then monitor the area around the needle poke to determine whether an allergy is present. If you are allergic to gluten, you will likely experience a bump in the area or another type of similar reaction.
Step 4
Have your blood tested. A blood test measures your immune system's response to gluten in foods. The lab will look for allergy antibodies in your blood that are associated with gluten. But these tests aren't always accurate and should be done in conjunction with other types of testing to be certain about whether you have a gluten allergy or not.
Tips and Warnings
- A gluten allergy is not the same thing as celiac disease, but treatments are similar so resources regarding treating celiac can help you successfully eliminate gluten from your diet. Contact a dietician if you are concerned about getting adequate nutrients from gluten free alternatives.
Things You'll Need
- Medical history
- Diary of symptoms
