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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.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

Changed
13/Apr/2021

Stories

  • Artificial sweeteners may promote diabetes, claim scientists
    Artificial sweeteners may contribute to soaring levels of diabetes, according to a controversial study that suggests the additives could exacerbate the problem they are meant to tackle. Researchers in Israel found that artificial sweeteners used in diet drinks and other foods can disrupt healthy microbes that live in the gut, leading to higher blood sugar levels – an early sign of diabetes. But the study has left many experts unconvinced. The findings draw largely on tests of just one sweetener…
  • A woman holding up the pregnancy test kit
    Pre-conception Care For A Healthy Pregnancy
    Planning a pregnancy? Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Chandan Dubey tells you what you need to do before you conceive. A woman’s good health prior to and during pregnancy is vital for optimal outcomes for her and the baby. You should consult a general physician or gynaecologist for preconception care and counselling. In the meantime, here’s what you should be aware of:  Lose weight (if you are overweight): Obesity is a serious problem in pregnancy. It increases the…
  • Heal Your Cancer
    Don’t fight cancer, heal it by attending to body, mind and spirit, says surgical oncologist Dr Vishal Rao. A child developing from an embryo in a mother’s womb is, in reality, a set of rapidly multiplying cells. But they are controlled and regulated. So, we choose to ‘love’ those cells. But when another set of cells multiply rapidly within our body, albeit haphazardly, we call it ‘Cancerous’! These cells are not foreign cells that have made an appearance from outside,…
  • CKD Overview
    Chronic Kidney Disease: An Overview
    What is Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD? Chronic Kidney Disease is a condition characterised by gradual loss of kidney function over a period of time (months to years). It is also known as Chronic Renal Disease. It is the work of the kidneys to remove waste products and excess fluids from the body through urine. They also balance the levels of salt, potassium and acid in the body. If the kidneys don’t function adequately, wastes can build up in the blood, progressing to…
  • Mayo Clinic partners with IBM to match Cancer Patients with Clinical Trials
    Mayo Clinic unveiled today a partnership with IBM to harness the power of its Watson supercomputer to match patients with the right clinical trials. Starting early next year, Watson will initially enroll patients with breast, colorectal and lung cancers based on eligibility. There are 170,000 ongoing clinical trials around the world, however, according to the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation, only 6% are completed on time. Enrolling patients in the…
  • Neighbourhoods That Encourage Walking Reduce Obesity and Diabetes
    People who live in neighborhoods that are conducive to walking experienced a substantially lower rate of obesity, overweight and diabetes than those who lived in more auto-dependent neighborhoods, according to a pair of studies presented at the American Diabetes Association's 74th Scientific Sessions. http://www.diabetescare.net/article/title/neighborboods-that-encourage-walking-reduce-obesity-and-diabetes   Those who read this, also read one of our contributor's journey as a diabetic for…
  • FDA approves first use of novel immune system drug for cancer
    This new class of drugs unleashes the body's immune system to fight tumors. This seems to solve a century-old mystery of how cancerous cells manage to evade the body's immune system. The drug which Merck will sell under the name of Keytruda was approved by patients with advanced melanoma who have exhausted other therapies.  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/05/business/merck-wins-approval-of-novel-immune-system-drug-for-cancer.html?emc=eta1
  • Highest number of diabetes-linked TB cases (302,000) in India, says Lancet
    Diabetes is making an increasingly important contribution to the TB epidemic and a 52% increase in diabetes prevalence recorded over the last 3 years in the 22 highest TB burden countries is thought to be responsible for a rise in diabetes-associated TB cases from 10% in 2010 to 15% in 2013,” says the Lancet study to be published in the medical journal this week. Read more here  Diabetes has long been known to be a risk factor for active tuberculosis and reactivation of latent tuberculosis…
  • Do more for depressed cancer patients
    Clinical depression was much more prevalent among cancer patients than in the general population, where around 2% of people suffer from the mental illness at any point in time. Among cancer patients, clinical depression ranged from 13% in people with lung cancer to 6% in people with genitourinary cancer. The study's lead author Michael Sharpe, from Oxford University, said: "Major depression is really quite common in people with cancer and the perhaps surprising finding is that most of it goes…
  • Healthy Foods and Treats in Singapore
    Juliana Lim has had Type II diabetes for 27 years. Here, she shares her diabetes and cholesterol friendly secrets and her little treats. She is a committee member of Diabetic Society of Singapore and represents the Diabetic Support Group.  Food - Try to include the following in your daily diet: 1. Small black fungus -These are easily available in supermarkets and can definitely help to manage your blood sugar. 2. Ladies fingers (Okra) - Try to get the fresher ones.…