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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13/Apr/2021

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Chronic Kidney Disease

Stories

Stages and Complications of Chronic Kidney Disease

Different stages of Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD) Stage 1: The eGFR (estimated GFR) shows normal kidney function but you have some pre-existing kidney damage or disease. eGFR is 90 or more ml/min/1.73m2. This is the first stage of CKD. Stage 2: Mildly reduced kidney function and you are already known to have some kidney damage or disease. Stage 3: Moderately reduced kidney function (with or without a known kidney disease. For example, an elderly person with ageing kidneys may have reduced…
Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease and Risk Factors

What causes Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Diabetes mellitus (an increase in blood sugar level) raises the risk of developing CKD. Hypertension (high blood pressure), if poorly controlled, can lead to CKD. CKD can also cause high blood pressure. Diabetes and hypertension together are responsible for two-thirds of cases of CKD. Glomerulonephritis, a group of diseases that cause inflammation and damage to the kidney's filtering units. These disorders are the third most common type of kidney…
Chronic Kidney Disease Tests

Tests for Chronic kidney disease In many CKD patients, previous renal disease or other underlying diseases are already known. A small number present with CKD of unknown cause. Assessment of GFR is the best test to measure the level of kidney function and determine the stage of kidney disease. Urinary tract ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound, in which the size of the kidneys is measured. Kidneys with CKD are usually smaller (< 9 cm) than normal kidneys, with notable exceptions such as in…
Treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease

Your doctor may suggest the following treatments for CKD: Control of blood pressure Treatment of the original disease, like treatment of diabetes Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) to control the progression of kidney disease by improving renal blood flow Replacement of erythropoietin and calcitriol (intravenous or intramuscular iron therapy prior to treatment with erythropoietin is recommended) Phosphate binders used to control…
Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease Initially there are no specific symptoms and Chronic Kidney Disease is generally only detected as an increase in serum creatinine or protein in the urine. As kidney function decreases, you may have the following symptoms of CKD: Feel more tired and have less energy Have trouble concentrating Have poor appetite Have trouble sleeping Have muscle cramping at night Have swollen feet and ankles Have puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning Have dry,…
4 Winter Diet Myths addressed

Did you know an individual gains an average of 2-5 Kgs in winter? Winter is a season of indulgences pushing us often to have food loaded with calories. Dietician and diabetes educator, Ujjwala Baxi tells us how to enjoy the winter without gaining weight. Come winter, the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, and we tend to gear up for both warm clothes as well as those mouthwatering season-specials that make every nippy evening worth its while. We throw our calorie-consciousness to the winds…
Palliative care in Kerala - lessons and answers

With a palliative care policy formulated in 2008, Kerala has become a path-breaker and a model for the rest of the country. Professor Devi Vijay of IIM Calcutta provides some insights into this community-based aspect of health care. 1. What can the rest of the country learn from the success of the Kerala palliative care story?How can other countries and communities leverage this community-based model? There are several elements of the Kerala palliative care movement worth examining…
Care for the Caregiver

Maya Ramachandran shares her experience as a caregiver to her parents and the learnings she drew from this. Caregiving is soul-satisfying, meaningful, draining and frustrating all at the same time. I had been a caregiver for my father for almost 16 years. My mother took charge from the forefront and I was with her, supporting her to the best of my ability through this period. However, for the last two years of my father’s life, I took on the role of ‘primary caregiver’, as my mother…
Post-Stroke Depression Is Common

But often overlooked, says Porrselvi A.P. a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist. Here, she offers a case study and practical strategies to guide you back to normal life. The patient: Mrs. K, a 67-year-old woman had a stroke in the left side of her brain in September last year. Her condition: Mrs K was referred for cognitive and psychological evaluation following complaints of social withdrawal, memory disturbances and increased irritability…
3 Simple Steps to Manage Diabetes E-book

A lot people find managing Diabetes on a day to day basis very difficult. But there is no need to worry. Here we have drawn from the experiences of those with diabetes and provided you tips to understand and manage your diabetes https://www.patientsengage.com/personal-voices/diabetes-has-kept-me-healthy https://www.patientsengage.com/personal-voices/focus-exercise-and-diet-control Click on the image below, login or register and download 3 Simple Steps To Diabetes Management Click on the image…