1. Initial Treatment
A gluten-free diet remains the only successful treatment for celiac disease. Once the condition is diagnosed, you should begin the new diet immediately. During initial treatment, you should err on the cautious side, avoiding all food and beverages that may contain gluten, including beer and bread. Your new diet should stop symptoms and heal any damage in a matter of months. Although, older adults may need stick to the strict diet for up to three years before the disease is considered to be in remission. If you don't notice improvements in the first week, you should speak to your doctor, as there may be another disease involved. Of course, hidden gluten may also be the cause, so make sure you aren't accidentally eating a forbidden product.
2. Ongoing Treatment
For someone with celiac disease, a gluten-free diet must be followed for the rest of your life. However, with medical supervision, you may add gluten-free oats and starches back into your diet. Be careful to only use pure products that were not processed on the same equipment as wheat. If symptoms begin to reoccur, stop eating the newly added element and call your doctor immediately. Remember to follow your gluten-free diet even if you have not experienced symptoms in years. Just 1/8 of a tsp. of wheat flour can counteract any benefits of a gluten-free diet, so it is crucial to stay focused.
3. Dealing With Damage to the Liver
For some people, a gluten-free diet does not cause symptoms to subside. This occurs only in a small number of people who have severe intestinal damage. Intravenous nutritional supplements stop the damage from worsening, and new drugs are being evaluated to treat the disease. However, if a gluten-free diet does not work, you may be forced to treat the complications of celiac disease instead of the root of the problem.
