However, with practice, screening for gluten becomes second nature and people learn to recognize which foods are safe and which are off limits. A dietitian, a health care professional who specializes in food and nutrition, can help people learn about their new diet. Also, support groups are particularly helpful for newly diagnosed people and their families as they learn to adjust to a new way of life. Damage to the small intestine and the resulting problems with nutrient absorption put a person with celiac disease at risk for several diseases and health problems. Lymphoma and adenocarcinoma are types of cancer that can develop in the intestine.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become weak, brittle, and prone to breaking.
Poor calcium absorption is a contributing factor to osteoporosis. Miscarriage and congenital malformation of the baby, such as neural tube defects, are risks for untreated pregnant women with celiac disease because of malabsorption of nutrients. Short stature results when childhood celiac disease prevents nutrient absorption during the years when nutrition is critical to a child's normal growth and development. Children who are diagnosed and treated before their growth stops may have a catch-up period. Seizures , or convulsions, result from inadequate absorption of folic acid.