Live Well Gluten Free

14 | www.coeliac.org.uk Ask our dietitians, Nicola, Naomi and Lorna Help, I’m newly diagnosed! Hear from the experts on cross contamination and how to keep your child safe at school Q: I’ve just been diagnosed and have so many questions. Do I need to worry about cross contamination at home? I’ve not been able to see a dietitian yet. A: If you are following a gluten free diet, it’s important to not undo all your good work by allowing your gluten free food to be contaminated with gluten. Simple steps at home, such as wiping down surfaces before you prepare your food and using a separate toaster or toaster bags for your gluten free bread all help. Find out more at www.coeliac.org.uk/cross-contamination We understand how daunting it can be when you’re first diagnosed and we’re here to support you. We’re aware of the difficulties many of you are facing when access to dietetic support in the community is more of a challenge. To help, we’ve developed our newly diagnosed online workshop which covers everything you need to know about the gluten free diet. Find out more at www.coeliac.org.uk/workshops Have you got a question for our dietitians? You can call our Helpline on 0333 332 2033 from 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday , or contact us via email at dietitian@coeliac.org.uk . We also have a weekly social media chat every Friday from 11am. Q: My daughter starts school in September and has only been on a gluten free diet for a few months. Her preschool has been quick to adapt but I feel like I’m starting all over again with school. Do you have any information I could send school before she starts? A: Sending your child to school for the first time can be a worry as it can feel like you’re losing control over their diet. However, by law, schools must make provisions for children with special dietary needs. It’s great to hear your preschool have been supportive and many schools will be too. To help, we have produced a range of resources for you to pass to the school which you can download from our website at www.coeliac.org.uk/schools Q&A Q: Can you help me with my type 2 diabetes? A: Coeliac UK is committed to providing tools to help you choose the right foods for your dietary needs, so we’re developing a new resource on living with coeliac disease and type 2 diabetes. There is no known link between these conditions, however this resource will give advice on managing both conditions, take a look at the fat and sugar content of gluten free food items and give some handy tips on reading food labels. It will be available soon, so keep an eye on www.coeliac.org.uk or email generalenquiries@coeliac.org.uk to register your interest.