Decoding Dairy: Navigating Milk Consumption with Chronic Kidney Disease

By: Kellsey Reed, RDN, LDN, PatientsLikeMe Contributor Milk is a universal food, included in so many delicious dishes and treats. But is it safe to drink milk with chronic kidney disease?  The Nutritional Breakdown of Milk Milk is a controversial topic when it comes to CKD. Many state that milk should be limited to a… Continue reading Decoding Dairy: Navigating Milk Consumption with Chronic Kidney Disease

What Does It Mean to Be Diagnosed With Prediabetes?

Medically Reviewed and Written By: Kathleen O’Shea Northrup, MD Most of us have some understanding of what it means to have diabetes- medication, blood sugar monitoring, careful food intake- but what about prediabetes? And what do I do if my doctor tells me I have it? What Does “prediabetic” Mean? If you have been told that… Continue reading What Does It Mean to Be Diagnosed With Prediabetes?

Cholesterol 101: What is LP(a)?

Medically Reviewed and Written By: Kathleen O’Shea Northrup, MD Lowering your cholesterol is a well-known way to decrease your risk of heart attack or stroke. You’ve likely heard of “good” cholesterol (HDL) and “bad” cholesterol (LDL), but what about Lipoprotein(a)? Lp(a), as it is more commonly known, has been the subject of increasing research in recent… Continue reading Cholesterol 101: What is LP(a)?

Celebrating Spring Holidays with Chronic Kidney Disease

By: Kellsey Reed RDN, LDN, PatientsLikeMe Contributor  With a few Spring holidays coming up, it’s important to remember that you deserve to enjoy your holiday celebrations when you have chronic kidney disease! Holidays can be such a joyous time of year, filled with family time, laughter and good food. Along with fun, holidays can also… Continue reading Celebrating Spring Holidays with Chronic Kidney Disease

9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Eat Your Way to Relief: 9 Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness If you’re living with a chronic illness, there’s a good chance your doctor has suggested altering your diet to help reduce or eliminate inflammation in the body. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a link between inflammation… Continue reading 9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness

Why these 5 Olympians with health conditions are #1 in our hearts

The 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games have come to a close. Did you happen to catch any of these 5 Olympians with health conditions (recently highlighted in The Mighty)? Their performances were inspiring — but their perspective on living with illness is what’s really golden. U.S. pairs figure skater Alexa Scimeca-Knierim developed a rare, life-threatening gastrointestinal disorder that caused episodes… Continue reading Why these 5 Olympians with health conditions are #1 in our hearts

How Many Kinds of Diabetes Are There? Lots. Explore Type 1, Type 2, LADA And More

Confused about the different types of diabetes? Never heard of other forms of diabetes beyond “1” and “2”? You’re not alone. As American Diabetes Month comes to a close, we’re shedding some light on this topic. Overall, more than 30 million Americans (9.4 percent of the U.S. population) have diabetes. Here’s a guide to help you and… Continue reading How Many Kinds of Diabetes Are There? Lots. Explore Type 1, Type 2, LADA And More

From tomatoes to turmeric: Can foods fight inflammation?

Inflammation is a hot topic. What’s it all about? And what’s the scoop on certain diets, foods and supplements, such as turmeric, when it comes to fighting inflammation? What is inflammation? Not all inflammation is “bad.” Acute inflammation is part of the body’s natural way of defending itself from foreign substances like viruses, bacteria, cuts and splinters.… Continue reading From tomatoes to turmeric: Can foods fight inflammation?

What’s in my bag? Motherhood with a health condition = “Mary Poppins” purse

Happy (almost) Mother’s Day! I’m Erin, a PatientsLikeMe senior copywriter living with type 1 diabetes – and a very busy toddler. My sister recently joked that my purse is “quite the Mary Poppins bag.” And it is. Between my diabetes “jazz” and baby paraphernalia, I need a big bag. The spread of stuff I lug… Continue reading What’s in my bag? Motherhood with a health condition = “Mary Poppins” purse

44 Celebrities With Kidney Disease

Roughly 37 million US adults have chronic kidney disease (CKD).  Kidney disease is a silent killer, ranking as the number one leading cause of death.  Your kidneys are about the size of a computer mouse and filters all the blood in your body. Their primary role is to remove waste, toxins, and excess fluid. They also… Continue reading 44 Celebrities With Kidney Disease