Coeliac Disease
Comprehensive care with compassion and expertise
Medically reviewed by: A.Prof Viraj Kariyawasam
Last reviewed: August 2026
Coeliac disease can affect far more than digestion. You may be dealing with ongoing stomach problems, low iron or tiredness without knowing that gluten is contributing to the way you feel.
At Complete Health Australia, our specialists can investigate unexplained symptoms and guide you through testing. If coeliac disease is confirmed, we’ll help you understand the diagnosis and the changes needed to protect your health.
What is coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.
When someone with coeliac disease eats gluten, their immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the small bowel. This damages the tiny finger-like structures that help the body absorb nutrients from food.
Without treatment, poor absorption can lead to deficiencies and other health problems. Some people develop obvious digestive symptoms, while others have signs that seem unrelated to the bowel. You can also have coeliac disease without noticing any symptoms.
The condition can begin at any age. It isn’t a food allergy or simply an intolerance, and it requires lifelong medical management.
Coeliac disease symptoms
Symptoms differ greatly between people and can change over time. Digestive problems may include:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Bloating and excess wind
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pale, greasy or difficult-to-flush bowel movements
Coeliac disease may also cause:
- Persistent tiredness
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Unexplained weight loss
- An itchy, blistering skin rash
- Mouth ulcers
- Weak or brittle bones
- Headaches or difficulty concentrating
Children may have poor growth, delayed puberty or problems gaining weight.
Many of these signs have other possible causes. Testing is the only reliable way to find out if coeliac disease is responsible.
What causes coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease develops when someone with a genetic susceptibility has an abnormal immune response to gluten. Almost everyone with the condition carries the HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 genes, although having either gene doesn’t mean you’ll develop it.
Your risk is higher if a parent, child or sibling has been diagnosed. Coeliac disease is also more common among people with type 1 diabetes or autoimmune thyroid disease.
It’s not caused by eating too much bread or choosing the wrong diet. The condition can become active after someone has eaten gluten without difficulty for years, but the exact trigger isn’t always clear.
Diagnosing coeliac disease
Don’t start a gluten-free diet before speaking with your doctor. Reducing or removing gluten can allow the bowel to begin healing, which may make test results inaccurate.
Diagnosis usually begins with blood tests that look for antibodies linked with coeliac disease. You’ll need to be eating gluten regularly when these are carried out.
If the results suggest coeliac disease, your gastroenterology specialist may recommend a gastroscopy. During this procedure, a slim flexible camera is passed through the mouth and into the small bowel. Tiny tissue samples are collected to look for damage under a microscope.
A genetic test can sometimes help rule out the condition. However, finding a relevant gene doesn’t confirm that you have coeliac disease because these genes are also present in people who never develop it.
Your specialist will review the results together before confirming the diagnosis.
Coeliac disease treatment
The treatment for coeliac disease is a strict gluten-free diet for life. This allows the small bowel to heal and helps prevent further damage, even if you don’t notice symptoms after eating gluten.
You’ll need to avoid foods containing wheat, rye and barley. Oats require particular care in Australia because only uncontaminated oats may be considered for a medically supervised trial, and some people still react to them.
Gluten can also be present in sauces, processed foods and some medicines. Cross-contact may happen when gluten-free food touches shared cooking surfaces, utensils or appliances.
A dietitian with experience in coeliac disease can help you:
- Identify safe foods and ingredients
- Understand food labels
- Reduce cross-contact at home
- Maintain a balanced diet
Follow-up may include repeat blood tests and checks for low iron or other nutritional deficiencies. Your doctor may also assess your bone health and review any symptoms that haven’t settled.
Most people begin to feel better after removing gluten, though healing takes time. Continuing follow-up helps confirm that treatment is working and gives you support as the gluten-free diet becomes part of everyday life.
Find answers and support with Complete Health Australia
Adjusting to a coeliac disease diagnosis can feel daunting, particularly when food is part of family life, work and social occasions.
Complete Health Australia offers careful investigation and practical guidance at each stage. We’ll help you reach a reliable diagnosis, understand your results and connect you with the right dietary support.
Meet our specialists
Our gastroenterology specialists assess possible coeliac disease and support people with an existing diagnosis.
They’ll explain your test results, answer your questions and help you plan the next steps with confidence.
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