Understanding Diverticular Disease
Diverticular disease is very common — by the time we're older, most of us will have it to some degree. For most people it causes few or no problems, and you can carry on with life as normal.
How your digestive system works
Food travels from your mouth, down through your stomach, passes through the small intestine where your body absorbs nutrients, then through the large bowel (colon) where it absorbs water and forms the stool. What's left passes out as a bowel motion.
Diverticular disease affects the large bowel (colon).
What is diverticular disease?
As we get older, small pouches called diverticula can form in the wall of the large bowel — a bit like tiny bulges in an inner tube. This is extremely common and usually harmless.
Common symptoms
- Cramping pain, usually in the lower left side of your tummy
- Bloating
- A change in your bowel habit — constipation, diarrhoea, or both
- Occasional mucus or a little blood in your stool
Symptoms often ease after passing a stool or wind. If your symptoms change or are new, see your GP — it's important to rule out other causes first.
How is diverticular disease diagnosed?
Diverticular disease is diagnosed by looking at the lining of the colon. Often it is found by chance during a routine colonoscopy. Some people may have a CT scan as it is a less invasive procedure.
Contact your GP promptly if you have:
- Worsening or severe tummy pain
- A high temperature, or you feel shivery
- Nausea or vomiting that doesn't settle
- Bleeding from your back passage
These can be signs of a flare-up (diverticulitis) that needs medical review — don't wait to see if it passes.
Myths — busted
✗ Myth: You need to avoid seeds, nuts, popcorn or fruit skins.
✓ Fact: Older advice said to avoid these, but this isn't supported by evidence — they're safe to eat.
✗ Myth: A low-fibre diet causes diverticular disease.
✓ Fact: A low-fibre diet doesn't cause diverticular disease, and constipation on its own isn't a proven cause either.
✗ Myth: You need to stay on a low-fibre diet long-term.
✓ Fact: During a flare-up (diverticulitis), your doctor may advise a short-term lower-fibre diet — but this isn't needed once you've recovered.
Looking after your gut through diet
There's no need to avoid any particular foods — but how much fibre you need, how you introduce it, and what else matters for your gut depends on your symptoms, your history and your current diet. A generic list of rules isn't much use here; what helps is advice built around you.
This is where we can help at The Dietetic Clinic. A dietitian can assess your medical history, symptoms and current diet, and help you work out what actually fits you and your life.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your own doctor or dietitian.
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