Step One

Visit a dietitian

After your diagnosis, your GP or gastroenterologist should refer you to see a dietitian who will provide you with personalised advice and a step by step plan for you to remove gluten from your diet.

If you are unsure whether you have been referred to a dietitian check with your GP, who will be able to advise you further. Your appointment with the dietitian may be at your GP’s surgery, or in the outpatient department at your local hospital.

Useful Tips

1. Prior to meeting with the dietitian, it can be helpful to keep a food diary for two or three days of what you would normally eat so the dietitian can help you to adapt your diet.
2. It can also be helpful to make a note of any questions or concerns you may have so you can remember to raise them during the consultation.
3. You might like someone to come with you to the consultation, to help you to remember everything the dietitian says. Alternatively, make sure you have a notebook or phone to hand, so that you can take notes to remember later.

What to expect

During your appointment your dietitian should provide you with written information and a contact number to support the advice that they give you, so you will have something to refer back to later. Remember to ask if you can expect to receive a follow up appointment. You should also ensure that you attend regular check-ups with either your GP, dietitian or gastroenterologist.

Step Three

Choose your gluten free prescription

Once you’ve been diagnosed with coeliac disease, you may be entitled to receive gluten free foods on prescription* to help you enjoy a well-balanced, gluten free diet. In order to receive a gluten free food prescription, you will need to make an appointment with your GP and discuss which products you would like to request on prescription and the quantities. You can then take your prescription to your chosen pharmacy and arrange to collect your order once it is ready.

Your doctor will need to use the exact title of your chosen food products when setting up or changing your prescription to ensure you receive what you want. Our Glutafin gluten free food request form provides all the information they need, if you wish to take it with you to your appointments.

Remember our careline are here to help you every step of the way, contact us here.

*Subject to the area you live in.

How do I plan my new gluten free prescription?

A great way to plan what you need on a gluten free prescription is to estimate what you ate in a typical month before you were diagnosed. Your GP will look into your needs and also what has been recommended by healthcare experts. To find out more about the amount of gluten free foods you are entitled to, as well as the overall prescription costs and other information, read our dedicated Your Prescription section.

Step Five

Join the active coeliac community

We are proud that a huge number of coeliacs across the UK call the Glutafin website home; join us to find out about our great support network. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to see our online community in action!

There is also fantastic support available through Coeliac UK, and a growing network of online resources to help.