Coeliac Superheroes 10: Introducing Isabelle! A graduate and friendly face behind @glutenfreetogetherr

Happy 10th Coeliac Superhero blog! This month we introduce you to Isabelle; a recent graduate, passionate about helping others feel less alone with coeliac disease.

Hi, Isabelle; tell us a little about yourself!

Hi! I’m Isabelle, the face behind @glutenfreetogetherr and @coeliacsclub. I recently graduated from university and have been navigating coeliac disease since my diagnosis a four years ago. I’m really passionate about helping others feel less alone with coeliac and sharing helpful advice, whether it’s for day-to-day life or travelling gluten free.

Describe your life prior to your diagnosis.

Before I was diagnosed, I was always super active and sporty, always on the go. I’d always been someone who struggled with tiredness, but I just thought it was normal. It was actually my sister who had more obvious stomach issues, like bloating and digestive discomfort, which led her to get tested for various things. I never really thought coeliac disease could apply to me.

When did you first suspect you might have coeliac disease, and how did you get diagnosed?

It wasn’t until lockdown that I really started noticing symptoms. I’d feel full or sick after just a few bites of food. Even the smell of a meal after I’d eaten would make me feel unwell. I was bloated, constantly tired, and my digestion was all over the place. The most noticeable change was my weight loss. I lost nearly 10kg, and my mum noticed how much muscle I’d lost too.

She raised concerns about how little I was eating, so I went to the doctor. I had a blood test, and I had no idea they were testing for coeliac disease. I didn’t even know what it was. The results came back positive, and I was referred for an endoscopy which confirmed my diagnosis a few months later. It really took me by surprise as no one else in my family has/ has ever had coeliac disease! That’s when I started Gluten-Free Together.

Talk to us about your page @glutenfreetogetherr, what inspired you to create such platform?

At first, it was just a way to keep myself accountable because I found sticking to the gluten-free diet really difficult in the beginning. But more than that, I felt incredibly alone in my diagnosis. I didn’t know anyone else with coeliac disease and was navigating everything by myself, especially while at university where there was barely any guidance or support. I’d spent 19 years eating gluten and suddenly everything had changed, it was overwhelming. I wanted to create a space where I could share my journey, my mistakes, and what I’ve learned, while also helping others feel seen and supported. Coeliac disease can feel really isolating, so I started sharing advice, tips, and the everyday reality of living gluten free, particularly for students and young people who are often overlooked.

I created @glutenfreetogetherr to connect with others who were going through the same thing and to offer the kind of support I wish I had at the beginning.

Exciting things to come too from @CoeliacsClub… tell us more!

The Coeliac Club is my latest venture and one I’m really passionate about. The hardest part of coeliac disease isn’t just avoiding gluten. It’s everything that comes with it. Family gatherings, eating out, dating, going to school or university. It can all feel really overwhelming when no one around you understands. I wanted to create a supportive space where coeliacs could connect, ask questions, and never feel alone.

It’s so important to have a place where we can share real experiences without being dismissed with comments like “it’s not that bad” or “at least it’s not something worse.” The social side of coeliac disease is often the most isolating, and that’s what the Coeliac Club is here to change. Eventually I’d love to turn it into an app, host events and meetups, and build a global community where coeliacs can support one another without judgment. Because at the end of the day it’s other coeliacs we trust the most, not always Google or ChatGPT.

How important is it to have family and friends who choose to listen and can understand that its more than ‘just a crumb’?

It’s so important. Having people around you who actually listen and take your condition seriously makes a huge difference. There’s nothing worse than someone dismissing what you say or trying to tell you you’re being dramatic. Supportive people make daily life easier, and that’s why I’m so passionate about the Coeliac Club. It’s for people who might not have that support at home.

When travelling, what can you not travel without?

My translation cards. Before I started making them, I got glutened so many times just because I couldn’t explain cross-contamination properly. Now, I don’t go anywhere without them. Being able to communicate your needs clearly in another language can be the difference between a great trip and a really stressful one.

Which destinations have been the most coeliac friendly?

Spain and Italy have been the best in my experience. The supermarkets in Spain are brilliant and really well labelled, and both countries are incredibly understanding when it comes to eating out gluten free. I was so impressed by how normalised coeliac disease felt there.

A word from us🫶

As we wrap up this month’s Coeliac Superhero spotlight, we’re reminded once again that no two coeliac journeys look the same. Through this series, we’ve had the privilege of sharing such a wide variety of experiences, including Isabelle’s, from late diagnoses and lifelong symptoms, to navigating family life, holidays, careers and food freedom with coeliac disease. Each story brings something unique to the table, and together, they shine a powerful light on what it means to live boldly and well with coeliac.

If you’ve enjoyed this feature, we warmly invite you to explore the rest of our Coeliac Superhero entries—there’s a whole archive of inspiring reads waiting for you. And if you’ve got a story of your own to share, we’d absolutely love to hear it. To be considered for a future feature, just drop us an email at info@jadeandjoy.co.uk. Here’s to continuing the conversation, celebrating our superheroes, and spreading a little more joy, one story at a time.