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Diabetes Awareness Month

2024-03-28T21:04:56-04:00March 17th, 2016|Categories: eNews, Physical Health, Webinar, What Causes Kidney Disease|Tags: |

Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease, accounting for nearly 44% of new cases each year. Coinciding with Diabetes Awareness Month, we were pleased to host an education call on November 3 to discuss the physiology of diabetes in Chronic Kidney Disease patients as well as beneficial lifestyle interventions. Danielle Kirkman, PhD was our guest speaker. She is currently a University of Delaware research fellow, focusing on the benefits of physical activity on vascular health.  Dr. Kirkman discussed the importance of monitoring your blood glucose levels early on to avoid kidney failure. The extreme fluctuations in blood glucose levels [...]

Challenges Appear on Horizon for Dialysis Workforce

2024-03-28T21:04:57-04:00March 17th, 2016|Categories: Employment, eNews, Lifestyle|

The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) recently conducted a survey which found that 51% of nephrology residency programs go unfilled. The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) also recently surveyed its membership, and 39% of respondents said their unit has insufficient staff, creating a rushed environment that contributes to incomplete work! Many ANNA survey respondents saw overlap between their working conditions and patients’ treatment conditions. Another area of concern for respondents was long hours, which contribute to various errors. While most nephrology nurses rated patient safety favorably, there is always room for improvement. There has also been a recent trend of declining [...]

Staying Well with Chronic Kidney Disease: Basic Guidelines for Eating and Exercise

2024-03-28T21:05:12-04:00March 8th, 2016|Categories: Fact Sheet, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Physical Health, The Kidney Citizen|

By Danielle Kirkman, PhD For some people with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), following a diet prescribed by their doctor may help to delay the need for dialysis. A diet will not cure kidney disease. A dietitian can help you develop a diet plan that follows your doctor’s recommendations and is also realistic. Eating healthy foods can help you feel well. A meal plan made to fit your needs can help you: get to a healthy weight or stay at a healthy weight, control your blood pressure, control your blood glucose (sugar) and lower your risk of heart disease by giving [...]

Are You Getting Enough High-Quality Sleep?

2024-03-28T21:06:14-04:00May 28th, 2015|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Nutrition, Peritoneal Dialysis, Physical Health, What Causes Kidney Disease|

We all know that sleep is important, yet many of us never seem to get enough of it. The journal Sleep Review recently found that 67% of end-stage renal disease patients said they were impacted by sleep disorders that prevented them from getting enough sleep. These sleep disorders include periodic leg movement syndrome (PLMS), restless legs syndrome (RLS), insomnia and sleep apnea. Researchers from Monash University reported in the journal Renal Failure that lack of sleep, especially when coupled with chronic kidney disease, leads to hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, lower quality of life and shorter life expectancy. This leaves many kidney patients [...]

Join Us for Our Kidney Health Seminar in New York!

2024-03-28T21:06:19-04:00March 19th, 2015|Categories: eNews, Mental Health, News & Events, Treatment|Tags: |

On Saturday, March 21 from 2-5pm, the DPC Education Center will partner with the Rogosin Institute for an event that is free and open to the general public. It will cover education and training on topics such as mental health, advocacy and treatment options for kidney disease. It will take place at the Campbell Dome at Queens College – CUNY, located at 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367. If you would like to attend this event, you are required to RSVP by March 17 so we can plan for the event according to the number of expected attendees. To RSVP, call [...]

Patient Engagement: Can innovative techniques empower patients to better manage their kidney disease?

2024-03-28T21:06:24-04:00October 23rd, 2014|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Physical Health|Tags: |

A new buzzword popular among health care leaders is “patient engagement,” sometimes referred to as “beneficiary engagement” when referring to Medicare beneficiaries.  What does this concept mean for kidney patients?  In general, patient engagement refers to transforming patients from passive recipients of health care to active partners, with their providers, in self-management of their disease.  We often hear from veteran dialysis patients that success in avoiding complications depends on the patient taking on an active role in his or her health care and working with clinicians on a “two-way street.” While this kind of active engagement is certainly typical among the [...]

Don’t take Your Mental Health for Granted

2024-03-28T21:06:27-04:00September 18th, 2014|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Quality of Life|

End stage renal disease (ESRD) or kidney failure is the end of your kidney function, not your life.  As a result, the DPC Education Center entered into an exciting new collaboration with the American Psychological Association (APA).  We recently held our first joint webinar and Regional Meeting in Detroit. Click here to view the recorded webinar. The diagnosis of stage 5 kidney disease or ESRD can be devastating.  Grieving the loss of your kidney function is normal as long as it does not interfere with living your life to the fullest. Typically, the doctors focus on the physical aspects of your [...]

September is Disaster Preparedness Month

2024-03-28T21:06:28-04:00September 18th, 2014|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Stress Management|Tags: |

Are you prepared for any disaster that might impact your life or your ability to dialyze?  Depending on where you live, there are many different types of disasters.  You and your family should have a plan in place and practice your plan so that when the need arises, you can stay calm and be prepared. You also should have alternative plans and specific means to communicate any changes that might occur.  Dialysis clinics are required to provide disaster plans to their patients and practice drills.  Your dialysis team will instruct you how to take yourself off of your dialysis machine if [...]

Mental Health Awareness Month

2024-03-28T21:06:30-04:00May 5th, 2014|Categories: eNews, Mental Health|

Mental health is defined by the World Health Organization as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. Mental health disorders are common in the United States, and each year approximately one quarter of the population suffers from one or more disorders.  Mental health is a taboo subject in American culture.  Many individuals are afraid to ask for help when they feel low or overwhelmed due to the stigma associated [...]

Maintaining Mental Health After a Kidney Transplant

2024-03-28T21:06:41-04:00April 30th, 2013|Categories: eNews, Kidney Transplant, Mental Health|

Mental health is just as important as physical health and the two go hand in hand. This shift of considering individual health as a whole mind body experience is refreshing, but the idea still needs to spread and build from a definition into a cultural mindset. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) know that the numbers on the machine or lab printout don’t tell the entire story. Research has shown that the death rate from chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes is two to three times greater for people living with mental illnesses.[1] As [...]

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