Originally Posted by
kadda1212
A friend of mine is on a gluten-free diet and supposedly has celiac. I don't quite believe her, though. No real doctor has confirmed it, only a nonmedical practitioner thought she could have it. But if it's a real disease, a doctor should be able to confirm it, shouldn't he?
A doctor can confirm it, yes. However, even if you test negatively for celiac, you can still be sensitive to gluten. This article* (written by a doctor) tells you the process for determining gluten sensitivity, which turns out to be easy enough to perform on your own.
When people with gluten sensitivity eat foods containing gluten, it triggers unpleasant symptoms: stomach pains, bloat, heartburn, joint pains, headache, skin rashes, fatigue, insomnia and brain fog, to name some of the most common. Although many of these symptoms are similar to those experienced by celiac sufferers, if you turn out to be gluten-sensitive, it probably won't require giving up gluten entirely.
In treating patients in my practice, I have found that eliminating gluten for a few weeks and gradually reintroducing it is the best way to assess your body's response to gluten and determine your own gluten threshold. By gradually introducing gluten-containing grains and other foods, you'll get an understanding of which of these foods, or how much of them, your body can process without triggering symptoms.
* Thanks @Scapegrace!