Coeliac disease: recognition, assessment and management

Checking your condition

If you have coeliac disease it is important that you have regular check‑ups. You should be offered an appointment once a year to check how things are going. During this annual review your healthcare professional should measure your weight and height and check your symptoms. They may ask you about your diet and whether you are eating any gluten, and think about whether you would benefit from specialist advice on diet and nutrition.

If there are any concerns from your annual review, you should be referred for further assessment. During the assessment the doctor will check whether you need to have a bone scan or treatment for bone disease, or whether you need to have any blood tests. They should also assess whether you're likely to have any problems caused by the disease in the future and whether you need to be referred to a specialist. If you are assessed for bone disease you may want to read our guidance on assessing the risk of osteoporosis‑related fractures (see other NICE guidance).

If you have ongoing symptoms such as diarrhoea, stomach pain, weight loss, tiredness or unexplained anaemia, or your blood test results don't show any change after a year, you might be referred to have a biopsy of your intestine (see what do the blood test results mean?).

Some people with coeliac disease may experience anxiety and depression. Doctors should follow NICE guidance for diagnosing and managing these conditions (see other NICE guidance).