{"id":430515,"date":"2026-05-03T17:39:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T17:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/430515\/"},"modified":"2026-05-03T17:39:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T17:39:17","slug":"could-you-be-living-with-coeliac-disease-here-are-the-signs-to-look-out-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/430515\/","title":{"rendered":"Could you be living with coeliac disease? Here are the signs to look out for"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gut symptoms like diarrhoea, constipation, or bloating are what most people will think of when they hear coeliac disease, but that\u2019s not the whole story. A hyper focus on these symptoms means many people remain undiagnosed \u2014 in Ireland, it\u2019s estimated to be 78,000 people.<\/p>\n

Coeliac disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease where the body\u2019s immune system reacts to gluten. That reaction damages the lining of the intestine, preventing the body from absorbing important nutrients.<\/p>\n

In Ireland, one in every 100 people are affected by coeliac disease \u2014 some 80,000 people live with the disease without realising it. Coeliac disease has a strong genetic link. \u201cAbout a third of people in Ireland will have the genes to be coeliac, but it needs the trigger as well,\u201d says Sarah Keogh, a CORU registered dietitian. \u201cIf you have a family member with coeliac disease, you have a one in 10 chance of also being coeliac. It is also more common in people with an underactive thyroid and people with type-1 diabetes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DieticianDietician Sarah Keogh: About a third of people in Ireland will have the genes to be coeliac, but it needs the trigger as well<\/p>\n

The headline symptoms of severe diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, vomiting, and other stomach issues are often the first hint that you could have coeliac disease, but there are many lesser-known symptoms that can fly under the radar.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany people across Ireland live with symptoms they may not realise could be linked to coeliac disease. Because it can present in different ways, from fatigue and low nutrient levels to digestive issues, coeliac disease is often overlooked or mistaken for other conditions,\u201d says Keogh.<\/p>\n

Here, she describes six often overlooked symptoms we should not ignore:<\/p>\n

Mouth ulcers<\/p>\n

\u201cYour mouth is part of your digestive system, so you can get a lot of mouth ulcers because of that autoimmune trigger. It can also be related to the fact that you\u2019re not absorbing nutrients, and your immune system can be compromised. On top of that, in about 25% of people with coeliac disease, their spleen isn\u2019t functioning properly, and your spleen is all about your immune system, hence the increase in mouth ulcers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chronic fatigue<\/p>\n

\u201cWith coeliac disease, you\u2019re not absorbing nutrients properly, and nutrients like iron will be chronically low, leading to fatigue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nutrient deficiencies<\/p>\n

Because of the damage to the intestinal lining, a person with coeliac disease can\u2019t absorb nutrients and minerals properly. \u201cThis can lead to deficiencies in vitamins like B12, and nutrients like iron, which can lead to anaemia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brain fog and migraines<\/p>\n

Keogh explains that symptoms like brain fog and persistent migraines can present in people with coeliac disease. \u201cThe gluten can cause nerve problems due to nutrient malabsorption, especially vitamin B12, but also due to a direct effect of gluten on the white matter of the brain. This can cause migraines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Issues with balance and coordination<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is this condition called ataxia, which is where the coordination of the muscles is affected because of the nerve damage created by coeliac disease. In some people, this can look like a sudden lack of balance or inability to walk properly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recurring pins and needles<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain, because of the nerve damage, coeliacs can develop persistent pins and needles or a numbness in their hands and feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simple blood test<\/p>\n

If you experience these symptoms regularly and persistently, Keogh says people should visit their GP.<\/p>\n

The first step to determine coeliac disease, or rule it out, is a blood test. \u201cThat simple test could provide clarity and, for many, the answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a positive blood test, your GP will likely refer you to a gastroenterologist for a biopsy.<\/p>\n

Keogh warns, though, that up to 10% of coeliacs will have a negative result for coeliac disease on the blood test, so for a definitive diagnosis, a person will need to have a biopsy to test for coeliac disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s an endoscopy (a procedure using a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at one end), and a biopsy of the small intestine.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important not to cut down or stop eating gluten during this diagnostic stage, says Keogh, because \u201cthe tests rely on your body actively reacting to gluten. If you reduce or stop eating gluten, it can distort the results and make diagnosis more difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there is no cure for coeliac disease, once it\u2019s identified, it can be effectively managed through a strict gluten-free diet.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it needs to be strict. It can\u2019t be \u2018I\u2019ll take Sundays off\u2019 or \u2018I mostly avoid gluten\u2019. Even a tiny amount of gluten can trigger the autoimmune reaction and restart intestinal damage,\u201d says Keogh.<\/p>\n

Most people who get diagnosed with coeliac disease are relieved, says Keogh, particularly if they have been feeling unwell for a long time.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome patients have been very sick and didn\u2019t even know they could feel better until they removed gluten and allowed their gut to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n

As well as feeling healthier and more energised, those who are diagnosed with coeliac disease and eliminate gluten from their diet can also reduce their long-term health risks, including osteoporosis, infertility, and an increased risk of certain cancers, explains Keogh.<\/p>\n

\u201cOsteoporosis is a major long-term complication of undiagnosed coeliac disease,\u201d says Keogh. \u201cPeople with undiagnosed coeliac disease are more likely to get osteoporosis at a younger age and get it more severely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many people may not know that undiagnosed coeliac disease can impact fertility. \u201c Coeliac disease impacts fertility and pregnancy outcomes due to malabsorption of nutrients, including folate and protein, as well as an auto-immune effect on developing embryos,\u201d says Keogh.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen with undiagnosed and untreated coeliac disease have an increased risk of recurrent miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility, and intrauterine growth restriction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keogh\u2019s central advice is not to dismiss persistent symptoms \u2014 mouth ulcers, fatigue, growth problems in children, fertility problems, migraines, and brain fog.<\/p>\n

\n Let\u2019s just rule it out. Get the simple blood test, and either rule it out, or prevent 10-20 years of needless suffering.\n <\/p>\n

The Coeliac Society of Ireland is urging people across the country not to ignore persistent, unexplained symptoms. It is encouraging greater awareness of coeliac disease and prompting those who may be affected to consider testing for a condition that often goes undiagnosed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gut symptoms like diarrhoea, constipation, or bloating are what most people will think of when they hear coeliac…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":430516,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[33970,1649,103,61,60],"class_list":["post-430515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-health-body","tag-health-nutrition","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=430515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430515\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/430516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=430515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=430515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=430515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}