Recently diagnosed

Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis may be a shock. But the good news is that there are a number of practical measures you can take to alleviate its symptoms and make living with it easier.

Lifestyle changes that can help
Watching what you eat can make a real difference, as the symptoms of ulcerative colitis can become more severe if you eat foods that irritate your digestive system. Eating regular small meals, drinking lots of water and avoiding the foods that you know make your symptoms worse, for example, nuts, fruits, spicy or fatty foods, can all help.

Getting some exercise can help boost overall health, prevent muscle weakness and if weight-bearing, can improve bone density where there may be poor calcium absorption due to ulcerative colitis.

Telling family and friends will help you to avoid embarrassment when you have an attack and letting them know what's going on means that they'll be able to be there for you when you need support.

Learn how medicines can help