Get to grips with diverticular disease: It’s not too late to watch our webinar

Who is the event recording for?

The event recording is suitable for anyone affected by diverticular disease who didn’t make it to the webinar, including people with symptoms of the condition and people who have a diagnosis, as well their family, friends and carers.

It’s time we got to grips with our guts and learning about digestive conditions and symptoms is for anyone who’s interested. Even if you don’t have the condition or know anyone who does, you might still find it useful.

What is diverticular disease?

Diverticula are permanent pockets that develop in the bowel and in some people, they can cause symptoms. Having symptoms is diagnosed as diverticular disease. But the terminology surrounding diverticular disease can get a little confusing, so let’s break it down:

The diverticular disease glossary:

• Diverticulum: A diverticulum is a small pouch about 1cm in size which sticks out from the wall of the large bowel.
• Diverticula: This refers to more than one Diverticulum. The most common site for diverticula is on the lower part of the large bowel on the left-hand side. They are permanent unless the affected part of the bowel is surgically removed.
• Diverticulitis: Diverticulitis means the condition that occurs when a single diverticulum or several diverticula become inflamed or infected.
• Diverticulosis: You may have heard the term diverticulosis, which means the presence of diverticula. This is not the same as diverticular disease. Most people with diverticulosis do not have, or go on to develop, diverticular disease. The great majority of people with diverticulosis will live out their lives never having symptoms. Having symptoms is diagnosed as diverticular disease.

Learn more about the condition with our patient information, available to read online or download.

Contact our Helpline

Guts UK’s Helpline can provide information, support, guidance and signposting. Call us on 0300 102 4887 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm) or complete our online form here.