Hi, I’m Katie Kennedy, and I’ve been a registered dietitian for over 20 years, working in lots of different areas of medicine, but more recently interested in gut health and supporting the gluten-free brand, Glutafin.

Being diagnosed with coeliac disease can feel very daunting, but I’ve put together some top tips to help you get through the first few months.

Why not join coeliac UK, the patient charity for people with celiac disease, and you can benefit from all of their super resources? There’s also lots of local coeliac UK support groups that you could join and meet other local people who also have a diagnosis of coeliac disease, sharing information and advice as you establish yourself on a gluten-free diet.

Speak to the people you’re closest to about your diagnosis. That might include friends, family, or even work colleagues. Let them know how important it is that you follow a strict gluten-free diet. You might be surprised how supportive they are. You never know, sharing your own experiences might help somebody else with similar symptoms to also get a diagnosis.

Always try to plan ahead and keep a supply of long-life gluten-free snacks in your bag or car, so if you’re anywhere where there aren’t many options available, you’ve always got something to snack on. Also, allow yourself extra time to do the weekly shop, particularly in the early weeks and months of your diagnosis. Make sure you visit the free-from aisle, where you’ll have lots of suitable options, but don’t be afraid to explore other areas of a supermarket and use your newfound label-reading skills.

Make contact with gluten-free food manufacturers like Glutafin. They’re happy to support newly diagnosed coeliac patients by sending them a starter box of gluten-free food products to try, and that’ll help you decide what food products you might want on your prescription. Check out the Glutafin website for more information.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your healthcare professional team if you need more advice or support about anything. Your GP is a really good place to start, but you should also receive a referral to a dietitian who’ll be able to provide lots of information and advice as you get established on your new gluten-free diet. Your pharmacist will be able to provide information about gluten-free foods on prescription, whilst patient helplines from coeliac UK or Glutafin will also be able to provide information on a wide range of issues.

Glutafin is a brand of products available on prescription for people with a diagnosis of coeliac disease. Check out the Glutafin website to see if you might be eligible for gluten-free products on prescription.