Preparing for the worst grandmother Margaret, 61, was plunged into despair - only to discover that a disease caused by a reaction to certain foods was in fact responsible for her illness.

In January 2007, Margaret, of Scawthorpe Avenue, was diagnosed with coeliac disease, a life-long condition triggered by eating gluten, a type of protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

The condition, which prevents food being absorbed properly, affects one in 100 people in the UK only 12.5 per cent of whom have being diagnosed.
After the initial relief that cancer was not in fact the cause, the former hospital worker faced the prospect of having to battle a disease she had never heard of, for which there is no cure and no medication.
"When the doctors told me they suspected bowel cancer it was devastating, so to be told that wasn't the cause was a huge relief, but then I heard the words 'coeliac disease.' I'd never even heard of it, it was daunting."

In fact the only way to control the disease is to keep to a strict gluten-free diet for life, something Margaret has found to be a huge challenge.

"To find out at the age of 60 that you need to completely change your eating habits is a massive learning curve, you can't just nip to the shops, you have to read every label and check it is OK to eat.

"Eating out is a nightmare too. I love going for meals but now it's like every time we do eat out you are putting your life in someone else's hands. Some restaurants are really good about it but a lot of places don't know enough about it.

"You do miss certain foods, but in the end you have to adapt and get used to it."

Although Margaret's problem didn't surface until January 2006 - following a 21-day stomach bug - doctors believe she may have had the condition all her life.

With symptoms including low energy, chronic stomach pain and significant weight loss, Margaret initially suffered in silence, delaying a visit to the doctor.

But her reluctance to seek medical help is something she know regrets after discovering that undiagnosed coeliac disease can also lead to osteoporosis and bowel cancer.

"I put it off for far too long. I would just say to anybody who is worried about it to go to the doctors and get it checked out."

Margaret credits Coeliac UK and her supportive husband Jim with helping her manage the disease on a daily basis and is now learning to live with her condition.

"My husband has just been so fantastic and the Coeliac UK local branch at Sheffield have been so supportive, I go to regular talks and they have given me lots of tips and advice. I don't know what I'd do without them."

* Coeliac UK's annual awareness week starts on Monday - it has partnered the National Trust which will be helping to raise awareness to visitors and offering gluten-free menu options. For more information visit www.coeliac.org.uk