Volunteers from the Swindon Group of Coeliac UK will be at the Great Western Hospital on Monday 18 May to raise awareness of coeliac disease and the support available to people living with the condition.
The group will be based in the Brighter Futures Hub from 10am to 3.30pm, where they will be on hand to talk to hospital staff, patients and visitors about coeliac disease, its symptoms, diagnosis and living gluten-free.
Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition where eating gluten triggers the immune system to attack the body’s own tissues, causing damage to the gut and making it harder for the body to absorb nutrients from food.
Symptoms of coeliac disease can be wide-ranging and are often overlooked or mistaken for other conditions. They can include joint pain, infertility, an itchy skin rash, memory loss and confusion, fatigue, bloating, constipation, tooth decay, mouth ulcers and hair loss.
It is a lifelong condition with no cure, and the only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet.
Coeliac UK is the UK’s leading charity for people living with coeliac disease, providing support for people with the condition, guidance for healthcare professionals and the catering industry, and commissioning and funding vital research.
The Swindon Group offers regular local meetings and support for people diagnosed with coeliac disease, as well as anyone who needs to follow a gluten-free diet for other health reasons.
A spokesperson for the Swindon Group said: “We’re looking forward to meeting staff and visitors at Great Western Hospital to talk about all things gluten-free, help raise awareness of coeliac disease and support anyone who may be struggling with symptoms or adapting to a gluten-free lifestyle. Early diagnosis can make a huge difference to people’s health and wellbeing.”
Anyone wanting to find out more about coeliac disease, diagnosis or living gluten-free is encouraged to visit the Swindon Group at the Brighter Futures Hub on Monday 18 May.
https://www.coeliac.org.uk/local-group/swindon/
https://www.facebook.com/CoeliacUKSwindon
https://www.facebook.com/groups/swindoncoeliac/
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