What happens if celiac disease is left untreated?

If you have celiac disease and don't stop eating gluten, your small intestines will continue to be damaged. This will continue to degrade your body's ability to absorb nutrients and can lead to malnutrition or disorders like osteoporosis.

What foods are safe for someone with celiac disease?

Any foods that don't contain gluten are safe for someone with celiac disease to eat, but it's not always obvious which foods have gluten. It's extremely important to check ingredient labels and to check for warnings if a gluten-free food was processed in a facility where there could be trace amounts of gluten present.

How long does it take to feel better with celiac disease?

The time to start feeling better once you start a gluten-free diet can vary, but most people will notice some kind of positive change very quickly. In children, the damage to their small intestines usually heals within six months, while it can take one to two years for damage to heal in adults.

Conditions

Celiac Disease Treatment in Charlotte

Comprehensive care for effective management and improved quality of life

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten that damages the small intestine and prevents proper nutrient absorption. Our gastroenterologists provide celiac disease testing and treatment in Charlotte, Huntersville, and Mooresville, including testing for gluten intolerance and sensitivity.

Know the condition

Understanding Your Condition

Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten triggers an immune response that attacks the small intestine, damaging the villi responsible for nutrient absorption. Left untreated, it can lead to serious malnutrition and long-term complications — especially in children.

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Is Celiac Disease Genetic?

Yes. If a parent, sibling, or child has been diagnosed with celiac disease, you have approximately a 10% chance of developing it as well. Because symptoms aren't always obvious, especially early on, testing is important if the condition runs in your family.

Can It Develop Later in Life?

What Other Conditions Are Associated with It?

KEY SYMPTOMS

Recognizing Symptoms

Symptoms look different in children and adults — here's what to watch for.

Celiac disease presents differently depending on age. Children typically show digestive symptoms, while adults more often experience systemic effects like fatigue, skin issues, or neurological symptoms. Because these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, celiac disease is frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked.

Abdominal Bloating & Pain

A common symptom in children, characterized by persistent abdominal discomfort and swelling — especially after eating gluten-containing foods.

Chronic Diarrhea, Vomiting & Constipation

Digestive symptoms like chronic loose stools, vomiting, constipation, or pale, foul-smelling stool are among the most common signs in children.

Fatigue & Joint Pain

Adults with celiac disease often experience unexplained fatigue and bone or joint pain rather than the digestive symptoms more common in children.

Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Damage to the small intestine prevents proper iron absorption, leading to unexplained anemia — particularly common in adults, especially women.

Hoarseness

A rough or strained voice — particularly in the morning — caused by stomach acid reaching the vocal cords.

Skin Rash (Dermatitis Herpetiformis)

An itchy, blistery skin rash that affects 15–25% of people with celiac disease. Those with this rash often have no digestive symptoms at all.

Neurological Symptoms

Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, seizures, depression, and anxiety can all be manifestations of celiac disease in adults.

Delayed Growth in Children

Malnutrition from untreated celiac disease can cause delayed growth, short stature, delayed puberty, and dental enamel defects during a child's development.

Reproductive Issues

Women with celiac disease may experience missed menstrual periods, infertility, or recurrent miscarriage related to ongoing nutritional deficiencies.

Causes & Risk Factors

What Causes Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is genetic and autoimmune in nature — meaning both your genes and your immune system play a role. While there's no way to prevent it, understanding your risk factors can help you pursue early diagnosis.

Celiac disease is a genetic condition. It occurs when the immune system mistakes gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye — for a threat, and attacks the lining of the small intestine in response. There is a 10% chance of developing celiac disease if a parent, sibling, or child has been diagnosed.

Treatment Options

Managing Celiac Disease

There is only one treatment for celiac disease: a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet. When gluten is eliminated, the immune attack on the small intestine stops, symptoms resolve, and healing can begin.

Gluten-Free Diet

Permanently avoiding all foods containing gluten is the only way to stop intestinal damage and manage symptoms. Even trace amounts of gluten can trigger a reaction and cause ongoing harm.

Dietician Referral

Our GI doctors may refer you to a registered dietician to help craft a personalized gluten-free eating plan that meets your nutritional needs while including foods you enjoy. The Celiac Disease Foundation (celiac.org) is also an excellent resource.

Identifying Hidden Gluten

Gluten can appear in unexpected places — food additives, cross-contaminated products, soy sauce, salad dressings, and even some medications. Learning to spot hidden sources is an essential part of managing the condition..

Healing Timeline

Most people experience symptom relief within days of going gluten-free. In children, intestinal healing typically takes 3–6 months. In adults, full healing may take one to two years.

Living Well with Celiac Disease

Going gluten-free can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right tools and habits, it becomes second nature. Many people find that a gluten-free lifestyle is far more varied and enjoyable than they expected.

Grocery Shopping Gluten-Free

Many common foods now come in gluten-free varieties, including pasta, bread, and baked goods. Organic and specialty grocery stores often have the widest selection, but major supermarket chains — including Walmart — increasingly carry gluten-free options. Always check ingredient labels carefully.

Gluten-Free Cooking at Home

Eating Out Safely

Medications & Gluten

Diagnostic Process

Getting Your Diagnosis

Celiac disease can be difficult to diagnose from symptoms alone, since they overlap with many other conditions. Our Charlotte-area offices specialize in celiac disease testing, using a combination of blood tests and intestinal biopsy to reach an accurate diagnosis. Here's what that process typically looks like.

If celiac disease is suspected, your doctor will first run a blood test to check for elevated levels of specific antibodies — anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTGA) or anti-endomysium (EMA) — that indicate an immune response to gluten. Important: continue eating foods with gluten before your blood test. Stopping early can cause antibody levels to drop and produce a false negative.

FAQs

The best, and only, treatment for celiac disease is a strict, gluten-free diet. Once diagnosed, our team can help you understand how to best avoid gluten and to learn about common, easy-to-find food substitutes for a healthy, satisfying diet.

Take the Next Step Toward Better Digestive Health

To schedule an appointment, call us at (704) 377-4009. Our team will connect you with a specialist who focuses on celiac diagnosis and management to help you find answers and start improving your quality of life.

Have questions about insurance? The Charlotte Gastro team can verify your coverage and let you know what to expect for out-of-pocket costs.