Sometimes they are shocked by the dietary restrictions and angry that this has happened to them. They may deny the existence of the condition. They may grieve for the things they can no longer eat and worry about how they will cope. Management is quite simply a strict gluten-free diet for life. It may be necessary to correct nutritional deficiencies present at diagnosis, but long-term supplementation is rarely required if the patient follows a balanced diet.
Persistent symptoms are rare in fully compliant patients.
The Coeliac Society encourages sufferers to foster a relationship with a single pharmacy. Dietitians welcome pharmacists able and willing to support patients in primary care. A good pharmacist is often the most important healthcare professional in a coeliac sufferer's daily life. Sadly, research shows that many of us are not getting it right. A follow-on feature will discuss how we can best build and serve our coeliac clientele for mutual benefit.