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 in just the past decade alone, the proportion of older Singaporeans suffering from chronic illnesses has almost doubled. The worst part is that over a third of respondents even reported having multiple chronic conditions, with the five most common being high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cataract, joint pain (arthritis, rheumatism, etc.), and diabetes.
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 Singapore’s robust 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 Singaporeans Struggle with Diabetes Today
In 2015, the International Diabetes Federation reported that slightly over 10% of Singaporeans are estimated to have diabetes. This is the second-highest proportion of diabetes amongst developed countries, and it is set to worsen as Singaporeans continue to adopt a more sedentary lifestyle with a high-caloric diet.
There are three types of diabetes (Type I, Type II, and gestational), with the most common amongst Singaporeans 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.
1 in 4 Adult Singaporeans Have High Blood Pressure
According to the Health Promotion Board, slightly less than a quarter of adult Singaporeans have high blood pressure. 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.
Managing Your Chronic Conditions with Housecall Doctors
Regardless of your chronic condition, the best way to ensure that you keep them under control and maintain a good quality of life is to get regular check-ups. But, these check-ups can easily slip your mind. Worse still, it’s never fun to have to wait in line to see the doctor, whether it’s your GP, or you’re visiting a polyclinic, as the battery of tests can easily take up your entire morning.
Luckily, our new Chronic Diseases Management package will help you manage your chronic condition in the privacy and comfort of your own home. You don’t have to worry about waiting for the doctor, tests, or medicine. Instead, depending on your condition(s), every few months, our team of fully-licensed doctors and nurses will come right to your doorstep to give you a check-up!
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, the Ministry of Health recommends 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.
With our Chronic Diseases Management package for diabetes, every four months, our team of fully-licensed doctors and nurses will come right to your doorstep for a checkup that includes 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, so 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.
Our Chronic Diseases Management package for high blood pressure includes a check-up every six months. During these house visits, we will conduct fasting lipids and a fasting blood sugar draw.
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
Since 2017, we have been providing on-demand healthcare services that include doctors, nurses, and even private ambulances. We also offer comprehensive healthcare packages for children’s health and chronic conditions.
If you are interested in booking a consultation with our licensed medical care professionals, you can make an appointment by using our online system here, download our app on the App Store or Google Play Store, or contact our hotline at +65 8180 8948.
