Submitted by Courtney

After visiting this blog on several occasions, I’ve been very impressed. The contributions of the participants seem to make it the up and coming blog to visit. Many of the articles are of substance with serious issues and concerns and not primarily focusing on gossip. Due to the quality shown, I’ve decided to contribute, especially since I’ve been extremely close to someone with kidney disease.

After reading research published on the subject, it is obvious that many people are not taking care of themselves nutritionally. A number of people might be at-risk of ailments but do not know it. In addition, from reading our obits the younger generation is passing on too quickly; there must be a reason. It appears that many of the medical staff is more about collecting $$ than the well being of the patient.

I hope that I can stimulate discussion about the many concerns this group of people and many others face daily that are not currently addressed by our medical professionals, with the hope that our discussion will produce positive action.

The New Year is a good time to make sure our health is in order. Although our doctors, as noted in an early article on the blog titled “doctors can do more to help people,” we need to help ourselves. Start with the checklist below, which can be taken to the doctor to review overall well-being.

I read a Healthy New Year’s checked list that list suggestions made by a medical doctor who has been practicing in the areas of critical care, and kidney disease over the past 18 years.  He mentioned six important items that we should pay extra attention to when talking with our doctor:

Good health checklist:

• Blood and urine lab work
• Medicine and supplement review
• Exercise review
• Nutrition review
• Dialysis modality review if you’re on dialysis
• Emotional health review
• Check in with your feelings
• Stay active by working or volunteering
• Keep moving and doing things that interest you

Diabetes check:

• Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (http://www.davita.com/diabetes/the-basics/a/365) If you have diabetes, and if you are on insulin, visits should occur at least four times.
• See an endocrinologist (a doctor who is more specialized in treating diabetes) if you aren’t working with your primary care or kidney doctor to manage your diabetes.
• Along with checking your glucose (blood sugar) level, blood pressure and weight, your doctor should take blood to check cholesterol, blood fat and glycated haemoglobin (haemoglobin A1c). The haemoglobin A1c test will give a measure of your blood glucose level over the past two to three months. A urine sample should also be taken to look for protein. Protein in the urine occurs when the kidneys are damaged. For people with diabetes, it is a sign that kidney function has declined, which could lead to kidney failure.

Medicine check:

• Review what medications you are taking, how you are feeling and how your body is responding to the medicines based on your lab results. Help your doctor determine if you’re taking the right medicines, or if there are medicines you no longer need to take.

Activity level check:

• Talk to your doctor about what kind of physical activity will be good for you.
• If you are on dialysis, you should stay active. Exercise can provide a health benefit. Most people on dialysis can do some form of physical activity. A study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation showed that people who exercise while on dialysis might have treatments that are more effective because exercise can reduce urea (a toxin that accumulates between dialysis sessions) by 20%. Physical activity can help you feel better, stronger and more in control of your health no matter when you do it.

Depression check:

• Doctors have pointed out that, “everybody is so busy dealing with the physical issues that they forget about the emotional strain,” that it’s a good idea to take the time to check in with your feelings and emotions.
• Depression is an illness that should be treated by a professional in the same way you would treat diabetes or high blood pressure. The feelings of sadness and hopelessness associated with depression can take away from one’s quality of life. Your mental well-being is just as important as your physical health.

Make this year the best it can be by taking caring of your physical and emotional needs. I hope you would use this checklist, engage your doctor in conversation about your health, follow the doctor’s advice to help you have a Healthy and Happy New Year.

Questions that a patient should ask his or her doctor about but not aware of is: Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) – It is considered by medical professionals to be the best measure of kidney function. Knowing someone’s GFR lets the person figure out his or her stage of kidney disease. Doctors use this information to plan the patient’s treatment.

Unfortunately, the other important item listed below is currently not offered in Barbados. This is another discussion in itself.

Transplant check:

• If you’ve had a transplant, you should make sure that your doctor pays special attention to the status of your new kidney. When going in for follow-up checkups, carry the list of medicines you are taking.
• You should also tell your doctor how your home monitoring has been going. This monitoring should include regular, self-administered checks on weight, temperature and blood pressure. If you notice a dramatic weight gain, you could be retaining fluids. Temperature change can indicate infection. If there is a noticeable change in blood pressure, you should visit your doctor as soon as you can.

Note of caution: With childhood obesity and diabetes complications increasing, the number of people in need of dialysis could rise steadily over the next few years.