HealthInfo Canterbury
Getting help for coeliac disease
A gluten-free diet for coeliac disease is a lifelong diet. With it, you'll need to avoid all foods that contain gluten. Even tiny amounts of gluten, such as a pea-size piece of wheat bread, is enough to damage your small bowel.
To start with, following a gluten-free diet can be overwhelming. It's harder if you don’t have the right information and support. A dietitian can help get you started. They can make sure you have the right information to follow a healthy gluten-free diet.
At an appointment with the dietitian you would expect to discuss and cover:
- foods that contain gluten, including hidden sources of gluten and cross-contamination
- alternative gluten-free foods, including advice on eating out and travel
- gluten-free foods on prescription – what's available and how to get repeat prescriptions
- how to read labels so you know if a food contains gluten
- gluten-free recipes, including information on how to adapt recipes that include gluten
- how to make sure you get all the nutrients you need on a gluten-free diet
- dietary advice about any related conditions you might have. These might include diabetes, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome and heart disease.
Group education about eating gluten-free for coeliac disease
If you're diagnosed with coeliac disease at Christchurch Hospital or Ashburton Hospital, your specialist or GP will refer you for group education. This is a 60-minute group session about eating gluten-free for coeliac disease. You can attend a session in the afternoon or evening at Village Health, 30 Lincoln Road, Spreydon. Online sessions are also available. A dietitian who is an expert on eating gluten-free facilitates the session.
Village Health will text you to confirm if you've been accepted into the group education session. If you've been accepted, they'll invite you to book a session via the Village Health website.
The Canterbury DHB funds the group education sessions so there's no cost to attend.
You may also choose to see a private dietitian.
On the next page: Gluten-free diet for coeliac disease
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed August 2020.
SourcesReview key: HICOA-25716
