Self-management: A Key to Success in Treating Chronic Illness
You Are the Most Important Member of the Healthcare Team
You have read here about the importance of team-based care to prevent chronic illness and slow its progression. Here is the critical insight. If you are fighting a chronic disease, the most important team member is you. Effectively treating illnesses like diabetes and heart disease requires daily attention—diet, exercise, measuring blood sugar, and taking medication. You are with your doctor for just a few minutes every few months. She helps you understand your disease and makes recommendations, but the real management of your condition is up to you. It is in your hands. That means that the better you understand your illness and the treatments that protect you, the longer you will preserve and improve your health. Effective coaching and education are critical.
It is important to get your health education from sources that are not compromised by conflicts of interest. Accepting advertising support from drug companies, large hospital systems, and similar sources always compromises the message. It is unavoidable. Our major health advocacy organizations all accept donations from drug companies and other institutions like them. I don’t accept any advertising for just that reason. My only support comes from subscribers. My purpose in creating this content is to provide the kind of information that you need to manage your condition yourself. Over the last two and a half years I have created 650 articles. You should be able to find most of what you need to manage your chronic disease here. My promise to you is that I will work hard to find information that supports you in your efforts to manage your illness at home and I have validated it to the extent possible.
Health coaches are also critical for your support. I have weekly meetings with nurse health coaches who are trained in optimal medical therapy (OMT) or in best practices for chronic condition management. They work all day every day with people like you who are managing their own chronic illness in between visits to their doctor. If you have questions about your reading or other issues that come up, these coaches understand your condition very well and they can help you achieve a deeper knowledge of your illness. They also know our system very well and they can help you navigate it. The more successful that you are with your education and coaching, the less time you will spend in the doctor’s office and hospital. We always appreciate your comments on how we may serve you more effectively.
I couldn't agree more. In fact, people owe it to themselves to do just that and to be their own advocate.
I completely agree.