Need Help Managing a Chronic Condition? Housecall Doctors Might Be the Answer.
Have a chronic condition? You are not alone. A recent joint study by Duke-NUS Medical School’s Centre for Ageing Research and Education and the Ministry of Health has revealed that 15.5% of those surveyed in this 2006 survey had a chronic condition. Many Malaysians report having multiple chronic conditions, with chronic diseases being a major cause of death or disability.
The good news is that usually, by properly managing these conditions, you can still enjoy a high quality of life. The even better news is that with Malaysia’s robust and ever-changing healthcare system, there are many different paths you can take to manage your chronic condition. In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle through proper diet and regular exercise, you must ensure that you have regular check-ups to keep on top of your chronic condition.
However, with your busy schedule, it can sometimes be difficult to find the time to head down to the polyclinic or the hospital for check-ups. Thankfully, with housecall doctor services like ours readily available, you can now conduct your check-up in the comfort of your own home, at your own convenience!
More Malaysians Struggle with Diabetes Today
Based on a survey conducted in 2019, nearly 4 million Malaysians were living with diabetes, recording a rise of 5% from 2015. This means 1 in 5 adults in Malaysia is suffering from diabetes, giving the country the title “The Sweetest Nation in Asia”.
There are three types of diabetes (Type I, Type II, and gestational), with the most common amongst Malaysians being Type II diabetes. Type II diabetes occurs when your body is unable to produce enough insulin or produces ineffective insulin. Out of all the diabetes types, it is actually the most manageable, as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle, monitor your blood sugar levels, and get regular check-ups.
However, if you do not take steps to manage and control your diabetes, serious complications could occur. For example, blood sugar levels could fluctuate to either dangerously high levels (hyperglycaemia) or dangerously low levels (hypoglycaemia), both of which are potentially life-threatening situations.
3 in 10 Adult Malaysians 18-Years and Older Have High Blood Pressure
Based on the findings of a survey released in 2016, there is a need for the strengthening of awareness, detection, and screening of hypertension in primary healthcare settings. In part, there is also a need for Malaysians to value the commitment to a healthier lifestyle.
This statistic might seem shocking, especially considering that the causes of high blood pressure are unknown most of the time. Obesity and diabetes are risk factors, but even individuals who exercise and maintain healthy diets could get high blood pressure.
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is very important that you take steps to manage it. While it might not sound like a scary condition, it is known as the ‘silent killer’ as it can often lead to complications like a stroke, kidney failure, or even a heart attack.
Keep Your Diabetes Under Control
You’ll have to stay on top of your blood sugar levels with frequent monitoring, but in addition to that, you need to get regular check-ups to help prevent any complications that might arise from diabetes, including kidney failure, stroke, and even a heart attack.
Thus, depending on the severity of your condition, it is recommended that you take a test to monitor your BMI, blood pressure, and blood sugar at least twice a year. You should also take a lipid profile to check your cholesterol levels and check your kidneys, eye health and feet at least once a year.
To manage your diabetes or hypertension, you are encouraged to do a checkup every four months. Licensed doctors and nurses will come right to your doorstep to perform fasting lipids, fasting blood sugar draw, and the HbA1c test. We will also do a renal panel, eye screening, and foot screening annually.
Ease Your (Hyper)Tension
There are several important steps you will need to take to keep your high blood pressure under control, such as lowering your sodium intake and drinking less alcohol.
However, high blood pressure will not magically go away. One of the key things you will need to do is get regular check-ups, which will help to reduce complications or catch any potential issues before they worsen.
Heavy drinkers who cut back on alcohol may lower their systopic pressure reading by approximately 5.5 mm Hg. It’s best to either avoid drinking or to drink only in moderation. There are more ways to help you control your hypertension which includes exercising more, consuming dark chocolate, revamping your diet, reducing caffeine intake, managing your work stress, quitting smoking, and many more!
Comprehensive Care from our Compassionate Team of Medical Staff
One of the best things about conducting house visits is that our team of qualified nurses and doctors will have a better understanding of your lifestyle and environment. This will mean they can offer you tailored treatment recommendations that will help make managing your chronic conditions much more comfortable and personalised.
Learn more about Speedoc’s Services
Speedoc provides on-demand healthcare services that include house call doctors, house call nurses, and even private ambulances. During peak pandemic, we played our role in providing on-site and home COVID-19 swab tests.
If you are interested in booking a consultation with our licensed medical care professionals, please download our app to use our video consultation services, or call us at +6011-4166 1178. Alternatively, you can also reach our Customer Experience Executives at contact.my@speedoc.com.
