The Coeliac Society of Ireland has launched Awareness Week 2023 and is encouraging families to take a proactive approach to their health by getting tested for coeliac disease and gluten intolerance.
Awareness Week runs from today, the15th of May and continues right through to the 20th, and includes a mix of online and in-person gatherings throughout the country.
Sarah Keogh, head dietician with the Coeliac Society of Ireland, told Northern Sound that it is and autoimmune disease that gets triggered by gluten.
She says it is extremely serious, can become debilitating and causes cancer, if not treated.
She added that it is also genetic and families with coeliac members are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
"Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease which is triggered by eating gluten in people who are sensitive. It's a serious medical condition and if left untreated it can cause cancer, osteoporosis and infertility. It also leaves people feeling absolutely exhausted.
"So, there are people who are tired all the time and they have no idea what's wrong. It's something that we want to fix because we know that there are well over 75,000 people in Ireland with coeliac disease," said Ms Keogh.
