How To Deal With Comorbidities And Be Prepared To Live With Covid-19

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 8 June 2020

A handy list of resources for living with the coronavirus and managing your chronic conditions. Just look for your condition below. If you don't find what you are looking for, please leave a comment and we will get back to you.

We must live with Covid-19 pandemic for a while. For people with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, rheumatic conditions, pulmonary conditions, it is even more essential to manage these conditions better. For e.g. a person whose blood sugars are under control is better equipped to deal with the coronavirus infection.

As we prepare for the easing of restrictions, we must be aware of the risks of infection associated with it and mitigate these risks by practicing safety guidelines viz. mask hygiene, regular washing and sanitisation of hands, and maintaining safe distance at all times.

We must also recognise that we cannot delay seeking help and treatment of our chronic conditions, and seek out the doctor. The process of these has changed in some places. While some places have started OPDs, most still require that you first connect and consult with the doctor through telemedicine. If the doctor advises you to go for tests or go see the doctor in person, please go ahead and not delay diagnosis and treatment. Do not let your fear of Covid-19 risk overtake your need for timely care.

We have also compiled resources for various conditions. Click on the topics you are interested in to get a detailed understanding of your specific condition. If you have specific questions, you can ask in our discussion forums or contact us at https://www.patientsengage.com/contact

Cancer

1. How to manage cancer treatment during Covid-19 by Dr. Vinay Deshmane, Consultant in Surgical Oncology & Breast Diseases and Medical Director and Jnt. Hon secretary of the Indian Cancer Society. Link to the webinar recording.

2.Also, here is the link to the key notes from the recording of the above webinar

Diabetes

1. How to live well with Diabetes during Covid-19 by Dr. Debashis Basu, Diabetes Awareness and You

2. How to manage diabetes during Covid-19 lockdown by Dr. Piya Balani Thakkar. Summary of her webinar recording

2a. How to manage diabetes during Covid-19 lockdown by Dr. Piya Balani Thakkar. Link to the webinar recording

Dementia

1. Dementia Home Care, the COVID-19 infection risk, and Lockdown/ Unlock challenges

This is a good resource to track the impact of the changes due to lockdowns and re-opening of cities and areas and how it impacts dementia care and even elder care. Useful tips for family caregivers of persons with dementia.

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Stories

Research Tie up for Diabetes Nephropathy

AstraZeneca and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma said on Wednesday they said signed a three-year research collaboration into diabetic nephropathy, or kidney failure due to diabetes. http://news.yahoo.com/astrazeneca-mitsubishi-tanabe-diabetes-research-064428458--finance.html
Cancers can be prevented if people kept to a normal weight

Excess weight linked to 10 different cancers Cancers have many causes – some of them genetic and some environmental. But the researchers, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Farr Institute of Health Informatics, have taken account of all the other factors involved in order to come up with a good estimate of the actual number of cancers that could be prevented if people kept to a normal weight. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/aug/14/excess-weight…
New research from A*STAR for early detection and personalised treatment of Ovarian Cancer

There are no early stage diagnostics for ovarian cancer and by the time they are discovered, they may not respond to standard cancer treatments. But a new research from A*STAR's Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) and the Bioinformatics Institute (BII) have found new clues to early detection and personalized treatments of ovarian cancer, thus offering hope to millions of women who might be susceptible to it. Their findings were published online in Nature Cell Biology in July…
The Sweet Truth

All you need to know about artificial sweeteners and sugar-free treats. By Dr Gita Mathai, a paediatrician and family practitioner. Food is enjoyed if it looks, smells and tastes good. It needs to provide an appetising blend of salt, sugar, bitters, sourness and spice. The first three in excess are “injurious to health”, and, of these, sugar is considered the greatest villain of all. It is purported to be singlehandedly responsible for the global epidemic of…
Stroke

is the loss of brain function due to a sudden disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. As a result of the decreased blood supply, the affected area of the brain cannot function normally, resulting in some of the following effects: Inability to move one or more limbs or face muscles on one side of the body Failure to understand or formulate speech Inability to see clearly Dizziness or confusion A stroke can happen in an instance and is a medical emergency. Time is critical…
What your body may be trying to tell you

Abnormally dry skin? Change in hair colour or shape of your nails? Even simple changes in the body may signify an underlying problem that you need to get checked out. By Dr Gita Mathai, paediatrician and family practitioner, shares tips to help you stay vigilant. The Skin should be a healthy colour. • If it turns yellow, you may have jaundice. • If it looks pale, get checked for anaemia. Here's how to manage iron-deficient anaemia. • Excessively cracked and…
Number of diabetic women on the rise

"In Tamil Nadu, it was found that 2,66,661 women above the age of 30 years were diabetic,," the health minister said. Terming diabetes as a killer disease, he recommended that people should exercise more regularly. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Trichy/Number-of-women-affected-by-diabetes-on-the-rise/articleshow/38768515.cms
Cancer survivor, 12, rewarded for selflessly volunteering to help other patients

Cancer survivor Lam Yi-ning is only 12 years old. She was diagnosed with cancer when she was just seven. She underwent brain surgery, four chemotherapy sessions and 30 radiotherapy sessions. Despite frequent headaches and impaired vision, Lam spends a lot of time helping others through volunteer work. She is one of the top 10 "warriors" named by the Regeneration Society - and the youngest to be honoured in the group's 17-year history http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/…
Understanding the Role of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can have different roles in treatment of cancer. It is important to understand the role of the chemotherapy prescribed for the patient. Dr. Kriti Mittal MD, MS Hematology and Medical Oncology explains the roles - curative, non-curative, palliative and adjuvant. It is important to understand the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of your cancer. In some cases of localized or locally advanced cancer that has not yet spread to distant organs, your health care provider may chose to…
Ramadan Fasting Tips For People With Diabetes

People with diabetes need to be very careful during Ramadan in order to maintain good glycemic control. Here are some tips for those who are fasting during this period. During the fasting month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world are fasting during daylight hours, eating two meals a day – Sehri or Suhoor (at pre-dawn) and Iftar (at sunset). For people with diabetes taking insulin or on some medication, the many hours without food and water puts them at risk of…