A life-long gluten-free diet is required. This allows the intestinal villi to heal. Foods, beverages, and medications which contain wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats are eliminated completely. You must read food and medication labels carefully to look for "hidden" sources of these grains and their derivatives. Since wheat and barley grains are found abundantly in the American diet, the treatment is challenging but achievable with education and planning.

You should NOT begin the gluten-free diet before a diagnosis is made. Doing so will alter future testing for the disease.

Vitamin and mineral supplements may be prescribed to correct nutritional deficiencies. Occasionally, corticosteroids (such as prednisone) may also be prescribed for short-term use or if you have refractory sprue. Following a well-balanced, gluten-free diet is generally the only treatment required for achieving wellness and eliminating symptoms.

Upon diagnosis, seek consultation from a registered dietitian with a specialty in celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. Joining a local and national support group can also be invaluable in helping one to cope with the disease and diet.

For additional information and support, see the organizations listed in celiac disease resources.

Depending on the degree of intestinal damage prior to diagnosis, the improvement in symptoms may vary in duration once treatment begins. The gluten-free diet must be carefully and continuously followed. When untreated, the disease can cause life-threatening complications. A delayed diagnosis or non-compliance with the diet places one at risk for developing associated conditions such as infertility, miscarriage, osteoporosis, fractures, certain types of intestinal cancer, or other autoimmune disorders.