Diverticulitis, Ceoliac Disease, Crohns Disease & Ulcerative Collitis. 

Diverticulitis 

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Diverticulitis is an infection in the lower gastrointestinal tract. 

Diverticulitis can be very painful. You may feel uncomfortably bloated. Many people with diverticulitis also notice a change in bowel patterns, such as constipation or diarrhea. 

Symptoms often include pain , constipation, diarrhea, bleeding. Registered Dietitian's are the only regulated health professionals trained to give medical nutrition therapy for diverticulitis. 

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Ceoliac Disease 

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition that affects the small intestine. It’s caused by an adverse reaction to gluten, a protein composite found in grains such as barley, wheat and rye. Our team of gastro dietitians provide evidence based, expert guidance to help you manage the challenges of living gluten free. They do this by giving advice directly to those who contact us via our Helpline, and by keeping the charity informed with the most up to date and accurate dietetic information.

Common symptoms include  indigestion, abdominal pain, bloating and vomiting and tiredness and fatigue. 

Treatment for coeliac disease involves removing gluten from your diet. Doing this allows the gut to heal and prevents further damage. If you do continue to eat gluten, your symptoms will continue to get worse and you could risk long-term damage to your health (including osteoporosis).Your dietitian will help you understand which foods are safe to eat and which aren’t. They’ll also help to ensure you’re getting a well-balanced diet with enough vitamins and minerals.

 

Inflammatory bowel disease 

1. Crohns Disease

Crohn’s disease is one of two conditions known as IBD, the other being ulcerative colitis. While the inflammation caused by Crohn’s can often be mild, many cases experience severe pain. People suffering the more severe symptoms will often need strong medication or an operation to remove the affected part of the intestine.

Symptoms can include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fatigue, weight-loss, blood/mucus in the faeces

To confirm a diagnosis, tests and physical examinations will need to be carried out, these may include:

Blood and stool tests, Endoscopy, Barium x-ray

A dietitian understands the importance of eating a balanced diet to ensure optimum health and well-being.

More importantly, they can use their expert knowledge to design a personalised diet for Crohn’s disease sufferers, tailored to each individual’s needs. 

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2. Ulcerative Colitis 

Often results in inflammation of the large intestine,  specifically the colon and the rectum. This inflammation can result in bleeding due to small ulcers. It is thought to be an autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakes harmless bacteria for a threat in the colon and attacks healthy tissue causing inflammation.  Symptoms may include recurring diarrhoea,  mucus or blood in stool, abdominal pain, fatigue and loss of appetite.