Correct, you need to follow a gluten free diet if you have celiac disease. Testing for celiac disease, however, requires consumption of gluten for accurate testing. If you are found to have celiac disease–a STRICT gluten free diet is then required. This means you only use a toaster that is used with gluten free toast, you have a special cutting board for gluten free foods, you follow a strict protocol to avoid any cross contamination with gluten. A couple crumbs of wheat can trigger an reaction in someone with celiac disease. There are many people that come to my practice following a reduced gluten intake. This is because another practitioner has suggested this for treatment of their GI symptoms. I think testing for celiac disease properly is very important–rather than sort of doing a gluten free diet on your own. Does that help?

I thought you had to avoid gluten if you had celiac disease.