News & Events
Discover new information and educational offerings that we provide. Explore our newsletters, blogs and upcoming webinars/conference calls.
Contents:
Medicare Plan Finder Gets an Upgrade for the First Time in a Decade
It’s Now Easier to Compare Coverage Options and Shop for Medicare Health and Drug Plans For the first time in a decade, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a modernized and redesigned Medicare Plan Finder. The Medicare Plan Finder, the most used tool on Medicare.gov, allows users to shop and compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. There are more than 60 million people with Medicare coverage. The updated Medicare Plan Finder also provides them and their caregivers with a personalized experience through a mobile friendly and easy-to-read design that will help them learn about different options and select coverage that best meets their health needs. The new Plan Finder walks users [...]
Resources for People with Diabetes and Kidney Disease
If you missed last week's webinar on diabetes and kidney disease, the recording is now available. In addition, below is a handout to accompany the presentation. Herbs Some of these articles provide information about what some people have tried, but the overall research is not necessarily strong. Some of these could be an option for you, but remember: IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USING ANY ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS. Herbs for Diabetes: https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/herbs-for-diabetes/ Bitter Melon, Diabetes (one of the speaker's favorites): https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/bitter-melon-diabetes/ Apple Cider Vinegar and Diabetes: https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/apple-cider-vinegar-and-diabetes/ Six Supplements for Diabetes: https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/six-supplements-for-diabetes/ Kidney Diet Diabetes Diet and Kidney Disease: https://www.dpcedcenter.org/staying-healthy/nutrition/diabetes-diet-and-kidney-disease/ A Livable, Lovable Approach to Kidney Disease Nutrition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOEdzhwEFJg Nutrition: https://www.dpcedcenter.org/staying-healthy/nutrition/ [...]
Decisions You Need to Make About Your Transplant Choice
Dr. Keith Melancon will touch on the following three key points: 1) Accepting high risk donors, 2) Understanding transplant wait time and 3) What makes a great transplant recipient.
Elevate the Patient Voice in ADPKD Research
A patient registry is available for people with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The registry is a way to empower patients within a research community while providing information about the impact of ADPKD on the lives of those affected. Participants will be asked to provide information about their diagnosis, symptoms, family history and more. Researchers will connect registry volunteers with studies and clinical trials they may be eligible to participate in. The hope is that registry participation will contribute towards the goal of curing ADPKD. Read more about participating. About ADPKD ADPKD is a genetic disorder—affecting approximately 400,000 people in the US—where cysts form in the kidneys. Symptoms include side and back pain, and [...]
Fight Kidney Disease by Combatting Childhood Obesity
One in 5 children in the United States have obesity. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. In fact, childhood obesity leads to an increased risk of kidney disease—a condition that affects over 30 million Americans. The good news is that childhood obesity can be prevented. In honor of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, DPC encourages your family to make healthy changes together. Get active outside! Walk around the neighborhood, go on a bike ride, or play basketball at the park. Limit screen time. Keep screen time (time spent on the computer, watching TV, or playing video games) [...]
Short Course on Sepsis and Kidney Disease
Do you know that anyone, including people with kidney disease, can get sepsis? Do you know what sepsis is and what its symptoms are? If you or a loved one gets sepsis. It is very important to get treatment immediately for this devastating and life-threatening condition. September is Sepsis Awareness Month, and we have a short online course that will get you up-to-speed in case this happens to you or someone you know. During this program, you will learn: What sepsis is What the early warning signs of sepsis are What people with kidney disease need to know about sepsis What you can do to prevent sepsis What to do if you suspect sepsis Get [...]
8 Things About Living with A Chronic Disease That Others May Not Understand
"If you see us 'enjoying' ourselves, it doesn’t mean we aren’t sick." This is one of a handful of ideas shared by a woman who has lived with a chronic illness for the past 12 years. She decided to create a blog to share her experience and spread awareness about others that may be going through something similar. If there are friends or family in your life that are having trouble relating to what you are going through, it may be helpful to share this article with them. Or perhaps it will inspire you to put your thoughts on paper and express the feelings you observe while living with kidney disease. Read the full article.
Diabetes and Kidney Disease: Can You Get Better?
During this webinar you will learn: 1) How Diabetes Affects Your Kidneys, 2) How Controlling Diabetes Improves Health and Well Being and 3) Three Proven Strategies for Controlling or Reversing Diabetes. David Spero has been a nurse for 40 years, has lived with a chronic illness for 30 years, writes regularly for Diabetes Self-Management magazine and web site and for other health publications. He is author of The Art of Getting Well: Maximizing Health When You Have a Chronic Illness (Hunter House 2003), and Diabetes: Sugar Coated Crisis – Who gets it, who profits, and how to stop it (New Society 2007) His e-book series: The Inn by the Healing Path: Stories on the road [...]
The Gap Between US Veterans and Kidney Doctors
Less than 60 percent of US Veterans with advanced stages of kidney disease (eGFR <30) receive care from a nephrologist. This is important as kidney disease is 34 percent higher among veterans than the general population. In addition, seeing a nephrologist could delay the progression of the disease and prevent other health issues from emerging. The percentage of veterans that work with a nephrologist varies by age, with patients over 69 being least likely. The data suggests that additional efforts need to be made to ensure veterans with kidney disease are getting the care they need. Read the full article. Understand the stages of kidney disease. Learn about veteran benefits related to kidney disease.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
We all need shots (vaccines) to help protect us from serious diseases. This protection is called immunization. To help our community stay safe, DPC Education Center is proudly participating in National Immunization Awareness Month. Shots can prevent serious diseases like the flu, measles, and pneumonia. They can also prevent some infections. This is especially important for people with kidney disease, as they are at a higher risk for getting an infection, which can be fatal. It’s important to know which shots you need and when to get them. Everyone age 6 months and older needs to get a flu vaccine every year. Other types of shots work best at specific ages or life stages. If [...]
Guía Básica de Alimentación para Personas con Enfermedad Renal
Presentado por María E. Rodríguez, MS, RD, CSR Aprende: ¿Qué es la dieta renal? Lo que necesitas saber sobre proteína, sodio, potasio y fósforo ¿Cómo hacer una buena selección de alimentos? Regístrate para los detalles de la llamada: https://www.dpcedcenter.org/news-events/education-webinars/signup/ English Translation Basic Nutrition Guide for People with Kidney Disease Presented by María E. Rodríguez, MS, RD, CSR Learn: What is the renal diet What you need to know about protein, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus How to make good food choices Sign up for call details: https://www.dpcedcenter.org/news-events/education-webinars/signup/ Note: This webinar will be presented in Spanish.
Upcoming Renal Nutrition Webinar Will Be Presented in Spanish!
Print out the flier. We invite your Spanish-speaking patients and their family members to participate in the upcoming free webinar: Basic Nutrition Guide for People with Kidney Disease. The webinar will discuss information about the renal diet including sodium, protein, potassium, and phosphorus as well as how to choose foods that are kidney-friendly. The presentation will be given in Spanish by a renal dietitian, María E Rodriguez. She has worked with dialysis patients for the past 10 years and with chronic kidney disease patients for the past 6 years. Learn More
Improve the Quality of Life for Dialysis Patients by Submitting Your Ideas in Prize Competition
Sometimes the best solution to a problem comes from the people who live and experience the challenge every day. This is one approach that is being taken to help improve the lives of dialysis patients. The KidneyX: Patient Innovator Challenge is a contest where people can submit ideas to help those living with kidney disease, with the chance of receiving a monetary prize. The challenge is organized into two groups: Category 1: "Solutions in Practice," which are solutions already tried or put into practice Category 2: "New Ideas," which are solutions that have not yet been created or tried. If you need additional guidance, some solutions could address ideas and tips for optimal independent living, meaningful social [...]
Support the DPC Education Center on Prime Day
If you are taking advantage of discounts for Amazon Prime Day, don't forget you can support DPC Education Center while you shop online. Amazon will donate a portion of your purchases to the DPC Education Center without added cost. The DPC Education Center is dedicated to empowering kidney disease patients through education, with continual collaboration from health professionals.
More Americans with Disabilities Are Getting Jobs
Employment is higher for working-age Americans with disabilities than one year ago as published in a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Specifically, "the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 29.5 percent in June 2018 to 31 percent in June 2019 (up 5.1 percent or 1.5 percentage points)." Additionally, the labor force participation rate—which is the percentage of the population that is working or actively looking for work—saw gains from 32.5 percent in June 2018 to 33.9 percent in June 2019 (up 4.3 percent or 1.4 percentage points) among working-age people with disabilities. These findings are important because maintaining employment can be difficult for some people with end-stage renal disease due [...]
Why You Should Take A Peek At Your Doctor’s Notes On Your Health
By Victoria Knight, Kaiser Health News When Pamela DeSalvo read the clinical note from her doctor’s visit, the words on the page hit her hard: “clinically morbidly obese.” She knew she was overweight, but seeing those three words together shocked her. It also inspired her to start losing weight. “I needed to see it in black and white, what I actually in my heart already knew. It forced me to get honest with myself,” DeSalvo said. “Reading that note saved my life.” Studies show that, indeed, reading your doctor’s notes can improve your health. DeSalvo lives in Metuchen, NJ, and works in health information technology. In the years after reading her doctor’s notes, DeSalvo kept [...]
A Young Man’s Life-Changing Experience with both Heart and Kidney Disease
Bill Coon became a two-time heart and kidney transplant recipient in his 20s. During the webinar, he will share experiences from his 70-day hospital stay and recovery from a heart and kidney transplant to help others learn how to improve their patient experience. He will also provide insight from his personal experience on what one might expect during post-transplant recovery.
Quick Guide for Receiving Medical Services Not Offered by Medicare
Thousands of Americans with end-stage renal disease rely on Medicare for their healthcare needs. However, there are some medical services, such as dental, vision and hearing, where Medicare coverage is lacking. If you are on Medicare and need these services, here is a three-page guide that provides free and lower-cost treatment resources. Check out the guide.
Kidney Disease and HIV
People with HIV are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease. In addition, some HIV medications can affect the kidneys. Getting tested for HIV, understanding your risk, and living a healthy life are steps you can make to better control your health. National HIV Testing Day is June 27, and the DPC Education Center encourages everyone to get tested for HIV. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Many people with HIV don’t have any symptoms. In the United States, 1 in 7 people living with HIV don’t know they have it. Even if you don’t feel sick, getting [...]
Childhood Chronic Disease: A Family Affair
Here are the top 10 ways family members can be supportive when a child has a chronic condition.
