According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), “In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the carbohydrates you eat into blood sugar (blood glucose) that it uses for energy — and insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body.”
Everyone is impacted by social determinants of health. These are the conditions in the places where we live, work, learn, and play that affect our health risks and health outcomes. The building blocks of our lives are also the building blocks of our health.
The past year and a half has been a time of unprecedented crisis, changes, and loss. It has also been a time of inspiring acts of service from dedicated healthcare workers, essential workers, and scientists, as well as individuals who reached out to support their community with acts of kindness and volunteers who spent their days and nights scheduling vaccine appointments for our most vulnerable.
When someone learns that their kidney disease has advanced to the point where dialysis is required, it can be an upsetting and often overwhelming diagnosis. In the past, dialysis meant spending long hours at a dialysis center several times a week. But kidney dialysis at home is now an option for individuals who are determined to manage their own treatment.
It’s that time of year when we think about how we can improve our lives and commit to resolutions for the new year. When someone is facing a serious chronic or terminal illness, resolutions can be a reminder to focus on what really matters in life.
Below, we offer a few suggestions for resolutions for those with a chronic or terminal illness.
Even with the arrival of a vaccine in record time, the very beginning of 2021 will likely look very similar to the darkest days of 2020. On the bright side, new approaches – many propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic – continue to advance the care of vulnerable individuals facing their end of life.
