Grant: Operating Grant - PA: Regional Partnership Program : Manitoba

Celiac disease is a common health problem associated with symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue. People with celiac disease may also develop anemia and have a greater risk for osteoporosis and some types of cancer. The only treatment is self-management with a lifelong gluten-free diet. Maintaining a gluten-free diet is difficult and can be particularly challenging in social situations. Gluten is present in many foods and is often not labeled, so it can be difficult for an individual to know whether gluten has been consumed. This difficulty is compounded by the lack of useful tools for routine medical monitoring of patients with celiac disease. Diet review with a dietitian is time consuming, duodenal biopsy is invasive and available tests for antibodies in blood may miss a patient who eats small amounts of gluten. Tests using different antibodies or using sugars to measure how the intestine is working have the potential to be useful, but have not been fully tested. The requirements of a gluten-free diet are demanding and can negatively affect how persons with celiac disease manage day to day. There has been research looking at some of the effects, such as depression, but there is still much to learn about ways to support those with celiac disease to cope effectively. In this study we will follow adults newly diagnosed with celiac disease for two years. Health outcomes, psychological functioning, and behavioral adjustments to the disease will be assessed at diagnosis and 6, 12 and 24 months after diagnosis. This tracking over time approach will help to determine the ways in which individuals are affected by celiac disease, as well as what helps people to be successful in managing the disease. This study will also help determine the best medical tests and methods to support persons with celiac disease. This knowledge may lead to medical and self-management strategies which would improve the health of those living with celiac disease.