Pregnancy holds no greater risks for women diagnosed with coeliac disease than those without, but it is important you follow a strict gluten free diet and make sure you get a good intake of calcium and iron.

It is also important that people with coeliac disease are followed up regularly, particularly at times of stress, such as pregnancy.

The Charity depends on a variety of funding streams. Our Members pay a small fee, to contribute to the costs of the services they receive, and we rely on donations and other fundraising activities too. We work with our commercial partners by offering advertising and sponsorship opportunities and we apply for grants from trusts and government organisations such as the Food Standards Agency and the Health Foundation.

Coeliac disease affects all ethnic groups and is common in Europe and North America, as well as in southern Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and South America.

Even very small amounts of gluten can be damaging to people with coeliac disease. Therefore, taking sensible steps to avoid cross contamination with gluten is important.

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Coeliac disease can develop and be diagnosed at any age. It may develop any time from after weaning to later in life and any time between. Coeliac disease is most frequently diagnosed in people aged 50-70 years old. Delayed diagnosis is common, Coeliac UK research shows the average time it takes to be diagnosed is 13 years.

Osteoporosis is a condition where the body's bones become brittle and are more likely to break. People with coeliac disease may have low bone mineral density (BMD), which is what is used to diagnose osteoporosis.

The reaction to eating gluten varies from person to person. In some people, it may trigger symptoms that last several days, while others might not experience any symptoms at all. The amount of gluten someone eats affects the degree of gut damage and your individual sensitivity to gluten affects the symptoms you may or may not experience. You may also find that your symptoms differ in type and/or severity compared to before you were diagnosed.

If a mistake is made and you have gluten by accident, it is unlikely to cause any long term gut damage, although you may suffer from diarrhoea, abdominal pain or vomiting so it is important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. You may find taking medication to treat constipation, diarrhoea or headaches can ease your symptoms. Speak to your GP or pharmacist for further advice.

We publish an annual Food and Drink Guide which lists thousands of foods you can eat, and a Gluten-free Checklist which are free to Members. You can order publications from our online shop.