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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.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

Stories

  • How I Handle Diabetes During Festivals
    Festivals with their abundance of rich sweets and savouries can usually be a tough time for persons with diabetes. Persons with diabetes and their spouses share their experience of keeping blood glucose levels under control during festive periods. PatientsEngage team asked a few of our community members the following questions about how they handle the festival period. How do you manage your diet during this phase? How do you control your cravings for sweets and unhealthy indulgences?…
  • Picture of indian sweets and snacks with a text overlay of Managing Diabetes During Festivals
    Tips For Managing Diabetes During Festive Periods
    Kajal Hansda, Senior Dietitian and Diabetes educator, DAY(Diabetes Awareness and you) shares tips for managing blood sugar levels during festival periods. Festive days with their abundance of rich sweets and savouries can usually be a tough time for persons with diabetes. How should one's diet be managed during this phase? Indian festivals are celebrated by heavy servings of sweets and savoury items. But Persons with Diabetes can still enjoy these festivals. Few simple measures should be…
  • BEFAST Stroke Symptoms Downloadable Flyer
    Acting within the golden hour for stroke is very important. It is therefore important that we all recognise the signs and symptoms of stroke. Now available in an easy to understand downloadable flyer form.    Stroke happens suddenly, often without warning. But acting in a timely manner is very important. If the patient gets treatment within the golden hour of 4.5 hours, the outcomes for the patient are far better. Save this. Print this and put it up in an accessible and easy to find…
  • Living Better After A Stroke: Insights From Stroke Survivors
    Listen to stroke survivors Jennifer Menezes and Rajesh Arora share their experience of having a stroke and working through #stroke recovery. Lots of lessons and insights for stroke survivors Jennifer Menezes and Rajesh Arora had very different symptoms. They post stroke challenges were different, their recovery journeys were different.  What is common is their hard work and tenacity that kept them going through the emotionally challenging and difficult periods, periods of depression and…
  • Understanding Neuroplasticity, Neurorecovery and Neurorehabilitation
    Dr Abhishek Srivastava, Director, Centre for Rehabilitation at Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai explains the approaches to neurorehabilitation after stroke and how applying the four types of neuroplasticity can help a patient recover and live independently. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adults. For Patients, its end of road, for Family its beginning of a burden, for Physicians its interventions, for Organization its investment and for the Nation its loss of Disability…
  • Mr Surana a stroke survivor seated ready to start his physiotherapy
    Twin Pillars of My Stroke Recovery: Hardwork And Willpower
    Mr Bhawarlal Surana, 69 from Mumbai had a brain stroke at work. Fortunately he spotted the signs and acted fast. He shares the challenges he faced post-stroke and his mantra for a strong recovery. Please tell us a bit about your condition. I am a Stroke survivor of 11 years.  I had a stroke in November 2010. I was 58 years old then. What were the early symptoms? What made you go to a doctor? It was a regular day that I started by waking up at 5 am and going for my walk at Five Gardens near…
  • How To Differentiate Common Viral Illnesses
    Dr Joyeeta Basu explains about common viral illnesses like flu, dengue and Covid-19, the importance of a precise diagnosis, the symptoms to watch out for and whether one should self-medicate. Plus common misconceptions. Please explain the difference between the common cold, influenza, chikungunya, dengue and covid. Influenza (flu) and the common cold are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Flu is caused by influenza viruses only, whereas the common…
  • How To Support Patients With Cachexia And Muscle Loss
    Patients with advanced cancer often experience cachexia. This is extremely distressing to caregivers. Dr. Arjun Gupta, gastrointestinal oncologist and researcher addresses questions on this difficult topic. What is cachexia? People with cancer often experience weight loss, loss of muscle mass, and become weaker as the cancer progresses. Their quality of life decreases, and they may experience increased toxicity from cancer treatments. This collection of symptoms is called ‘’cachexia’’. It is…
  • 3 सरल चरणों में करें स्तन कैंसर के लिए प्रारम्भिक जाँच
    स्तन कैंसर (ब्रेस्ट कैंसर) से होने वाली मौतों से काफ़ी हद तक बचा जा सकता है। महीने में एक बार स्तन आत्म-निरीक्षण करें। स्तन आत्म-निरीक्षण कैसे करें, यह जानने के लिए शॉवर कार्ड डाउनलोड करें और यह वीडियो देखें। हर साल विश्व में लगभग 20 लाख महिलाओं को स्तन कैंसर होता है। शॉवर कार्ड डाउनलोड करें और अपने शॉवर के पास लगा दें। कार्ड में दिये गये निर्देशों का पालन करें। शुरू की अवस्था में ही जांच द्वारा स्तन कैंसर के संकेत पहचान पाने से स्तन कैंसर को रोकने में मदद मिल सकती है। स्तन आत्म-निरीक्षण (…
  • Upcoming Webinar: Breast Cancer in Young Women
    Act Now. Save Lives! Breast Cancer is becoming the number 1 cancer among urban Indian women. A significant number of women affected are below the age of 40.  PatientsEngage brings together a panel to discuss the reasons behind this rise, the challenges in screening and diagnosis for young women, the risk factors that Indian women, especially young women should be aware of and what each woman should do to reduce her risk and catch it early. The panelists are: Dr. Rohini Patil, Breast Cancer…