Healthy Living With HIV-October/November 2011

Learning About

Aspergillosis A

spergillosis is a fungal infection caused by Aspergillus, a common group of fungi. In people with healthy immune systems, it usually causes mild or moderate lung problems.

However, since people with HIV have suppressed immune systems, it can be life threatening.

Symptoms of aspergillosis may include pain in the sinuses, nose, or ear canal. Facial swelling and pneumonia-type symptoms, such as coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever, may also be caused by aspergillosis. A doctor will diagnose the fungal infection by staining

sputum or nasal secretions and then culturing the material for the organism.

Fortunately, there are medications that can fight off aspergillosis, including intravenous amphotericin B or voriconazole. To help prevent aspergillosis from occurring, keep your immune system healthy by using HIV drugs when necessary and seeing your doctor on a regular basis.

Source: TheBody.com (www.thebody.com/ content/art58970.html#asper).

Fatigue: Catch the Causes, Treat the Problem!

F

atigue can be caused by many different things, but the good news is that working with your healthcare provider can help you find the cause of it and the best way to treat it. Here are some common causes of fatigue and helpful hints to manage it: Active HIV infection: When HIV multiplies rapidly, your body uses a lot of energy fighting it. Energy can increase after you start taking antiretroviral therapy.

Other active infections: Other infections can tire you out, including digestive system parasites and bronchitis. Get treatment of these infections to improve your energy.

Poor nutrition. If you’re not getting enough nutrients, you’ll have less energy. Diarrhea can further rob your body of nutrients and cause fatigue. Meet with a dietitian who knows about HIV disease to discuss your eating habits. Some supplements or better nutrition may help eliminate fatigue.

Anemia: Get a blood test to see if you have anemia.

If you do, your healthcare provider will help determine what’s causing anemia and can help treat it.

Source: TheBody (www.thebody.com/content/treat/art6042.html).

Low hormone levels: Low levels of testosterone can cause fatigue and lack of interest in sex and other normal activities. Low levels of other important hormones (eg, DHEA, cortisol, or thyroid) can cause similar problems. Check hormone levels with blood tests. Pills, patches, creams, or injections may help get hormone levels back to normal.

Depression: The chemical changes in the brain that trigger depression can cause fatigue and a lack of interest in daily activities. Treatments are available but must be used carefully.

Talk to your doctor about depression treatments before starting anything.

Lifestyle: Get enough sleep, quit smoking, limit intake of caffeine, and exercise regularly to live a healthy lifestyle.

October/November 2011

Getting

Financial Help for Needed Drugs

P

atient assistance and drug co-pay programs can help people with HIV who need financial assistance get the medications they need. Fortunately, most pharmaceutical companies provide some level of patient assistance to people who can’t afford their HIV drugs. These are typically for uninsured people and for those who qualify financially. Many companies have also instituted co-pay assistance programs for their HIV drugs. Co-pay programs may cover all or part of the drug co-pay for privately insured people, up to a specified amount, and for a pre-determined period of time.

Qualifications vary by program, so you and your healthcare provider should contact HIV drug manufacturers directly to see if you’re eligible for a patient assistance program. Here are other websites that may help you get financial assistance:

Feature:

Minimizing Your

Diabetes Risk

• Partnership for Prescription Assistance: www.pparx.org • Needy Meds: www.needymeds.com • Together Rx: www.TogetherRxAccess.com Source: TheBody.com (www.thebody.com/content/money/art51554.html).

Also in this issue: The editorial content for this brochure was developed and created solely by the Patient Education Center. The content does not necessarily represent the opinions and/or views of our advertisers.

Healthy Living With HIV is published by the Patient Education Center. Offices: 2445 Kuser Road, Suite 202, Hamilton, NJ 08690; and 180 Mount Airy Road, Suite 102, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Publication of an advertisement or other product mention in Healthy Living With HIV should not be construed as an endorsement of the product or the manufacturer’s claims. Such advertising or product mentions should similarly not be construed as either influencing or controlling the editorial content of Healthy Living With HIV. The appearance of or reference to any person or entity in the editorial material (including photographs) in this brochure does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of the product advertised. Readers are encouraged to contact the product manufacturer with any questions about the features and/ or limitations of any product mentioned. The reader also is advised to consult appropriate medical literature and the product information currently provided by the manufacturer of each drug to verify indications, dosage, method, duration of administration, and contraindications.

Copyright 2011, Patient Education Center

PEC-HL-OCT-035

Getting Financial Help for Needed Drugs Learning About Aspergillosis Fatigue: Catch the Causes, Treat the Problem!

Visit us online at www.patientedu.org/hiv

Learning About

Aspergillosis A

spergillosis is a fungal infection caused by Aspergillus, a common group of fungi. In people with healthy immune systems, it usually causes mild or moderate lung problems.

However, since people with HIV have suppressed immune systems, it can be life threatening.

Symptoms of aspergillosis may include pain in the sinuses, nose, or ear canal. Facial swelling and pneumonia-type symptoms, such as coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever, may also be caused by aspergillosis. A doctor will diagnose the fungal infection by staining

sputum or nasal secretions and then culturing the material for the organism.

Fortunately, there are medications that can fight off aspergillosis, including intravenous amphotericin B or voriconazole. To help prevent aspergillosis from occurring, keep your immune system healthy by using HIV drugs when necessary and seeing your doctor on a regular basis.

Source: TheBody.com (www.thebody.com/ content/art58970.html#asper).

Fatigue: Catch the Causes, Treat the Problem!

F

atigue can be caused by many different things, but the good news is that working with your healthcare provider can help you find the cause of it and the best way to treat it. Here are some common causes of fatigue and helpful hints to manage it: Active HIV infection: When HIV multiplies rapidly, your body uses a lot of energy fighting it. Energy can increase after you start taking antiretroviral therapy.

Other active infections: Other infections can tire you out, including digestive system parasites and bronchitis. Get treatment of these infections to improve your energy.

Poor nutrition. If you’re not getting enough nutrients, you’ll have less energy. Diarrhea can further rob your body of nutrients and cause fatigue. Meet with a dietitian who knows about HIV disease to discuss your eating habits. Some supplements or better nutrition may help eliminate fatigue.

Anemia: Get a blood test to see if you have anemia.

If you do, your healthcare provider will help determine what’s causing anemia and can help treat it.

Source: TheBody (www.thebody.com/content/treat/art6042.html).

Low hormone levels: Low levels of testosterone can cause fatigue and lack of interest in sex and other normal activities. Low levels of other important hormones (eg, DHEA, cortisol, or thyroid) can cause similar problems. Check hormone levels with blood tests. Pills, patches, creams, or injections may help get hormone levels back to normal.

Depression: The chemical changes in the brain that trigger depression can cause fatigue and a lack of interest in daily activities. Treatments are available but must be used carefully.

Talk to your doctor about depression treatments before starting anything.

Lifestyle: Get enough sleep, quit smoking, limit intake of caffeine, and exercise regularly to live a healthy lifestyle.

October/November 2011

Getting

Financial Help for Needed Drugs

P

atient assistance and drug co-pay programs can help people with HIV who need financial assistance get the medications they need. Fortunately, most pharmaceutical companies provide some level of patient assistance to people who can’t afford their HIV drugs. These are typically for uninsured people and for those who qualify financially. Many companies have also instituted co-pay assistance programs for their HIV drugs. Co-pay programs may cover all or part of the drug co-pay for privately insured people, up to a specified amount, and for a pre-determined period of time.

Qualifications vary by program, so you and your healthcare provider should contact HIV drug manufacturers directly to see if you’re eligible for a patient assistance program. Here are other websites that may help you get financial assistance:

Feature:

Minimizing Your

Diabetes Risk

• Partnership for Prescription Assistance: www.pparx.org • Needy Meds: www.needymeds.com • Together Rx: www.TogetherRxAccess.com Source: TheBody.com (www.thebody.com/content/money/art51554.html).

Also in this issue: The editorial content for this brochure was developed and created solely by the Patient Education Center. The content does not necessarily represent the opinions and/or views of our advertisers.

Healthy Living With HIV is published by the Patient Education Center. Offices: 2445 Kuser Road, Suite 202, Hamilton, NJ 08690; and 180 Mount Airy Road, Suite 102, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Publication of an advertisement or other product mention in Healthy Living With HIV should not be construed as an endorsement of the product or the manufacturer’s claims. Such advertising or product mentions should similarly not be construed as either influencing or controlling the editorial content of Healthy Living With HIV. The appearance of or reference to any person or entity in the editorial material (including photographs) in this brochure does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of the product advertised. Readers are encouraged to contact the product manufacturer with any questions about the features and/ or limitations of any product mentioned. The reader also is advised to consult appropriate medical literature and the product information currently provided by the manufacturer of each drug to verify indications, dosage, method, duration of administration, and contraindications.

Copyright 2011, Patient Education Center

PEC-HL-OCT-035

Getting Financial Help for Needed Drugs Learning About Aspergillosis Fatigue: Catch the Causes, Treat the Problem!

Visit us online at www.patientedu.org/hiv

Minimizing Your

Diabetes Risk

People with HIV can help prevent diabetes or help keep it under control by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking medication, if necessary.

Diabetes treatments can be initiated when prevention efforts aren’t enough.

A

s people with HIV are living longer, healthcare providers are becoming increasingly vigilant about chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Diabetes, a chronic condition, can cause significant damage if it goes uncontrolled for long periods of time.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder of how the body uses digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food people eat is broken down into glucose, a form of sugar in the blood that acts as the main source of fuel for the body. After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it’s used by cells for growth and energy.

For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. When people eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from the blood into the cells.

In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin or the cells don’t respond to the insulin that is produced. Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body in the urine. As a result, the body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.

Common Types of Diabetes There are several types of diabetes, but the most common are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes accounts

for 5% to 10% of diagnosed diabetes cases in the United States.

It develops most often in children and young adults, but it can appear at any age. About 90% to 95% of diabetes cases are type 2.

This type is most often associated with older age, obesity, a family history of diabetes, a history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities. About 3% to 8% of pregnant women in the U.S. develop gestational diabetes. It usually disappears after the birth of a baby, but women who have had gestational diabetes have a 40% to 60% chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years.

Living With HIV & Diabetes Experts recommend that people living with HIV and diabetes be monitored with fasting blood glucose testing before starting anti-HIV drugs, and then every 3 to 6 months thereafter. An oral glucose tolerance test is also recommended in patients with risk factors for diabetes. It’s important to discuss with your doctor how your HIV drug regimen may be affected by diabetes. Different treatment options are available, but consider them only after consulting your healthcare provider.

Tried & True Strategies A good way to help keep diabetes in check is to follow the “ABCs” of diabetes. ABC stands for A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

The A1C test tells you your blood glucose measurement over the last 3 months. It’s important to keep the ABC levels at suggested goals to keep diabetes under control (see Table right).

Self-Care Goes a Long Way The treatment of diabetes will typically involve physicians, nurses, dieticians, and other healthcare professionals, but people living with HIV and diabetes must also care for themselves at home each day by eating right, exercising regularly, monitoring blood glucose levels, and taking medications to keep the disease under control.

Diet, Exercise, & Smoking Cessation. People with diabetes should exercise for 150 minutes per week at moderate intensity. Both aerobic and strength training are helpful. To maintain a healthy weight, diets should limit saturated fats, concentrated sweets, and alcohol. Nutritional plans can be tailored to you by working together with a registered dietician. Smoking cessation is also critical to cutting your risk of diabetic complications, especially heart disease.

Monitor Blood Glucose Levels. People with diabetes on insulin should check their blood glucose on their own at least 3 times a day. Blood glucose should be between 70 mg/dL and 130 mg/ dL before meals and no higher than 180 mg/dL 1 to 2 hours after meals. In addition to blood glucose monitoring, regularly check blood pressure and cholesterol.

Medications. Drugs and/or insulin may be necessary to reach and maintain tight glucose control and reduce your risk for diabetes complications.

Healthcare providers will work with you to determine the medications that are needed to keep diabetes under control while also considering your HIV drug regimen.

Source: TheBody.com (www.thebody.com/content/treat/art52219.html).

Table

The ABCs of Diabetes

ABCs A1C Blood Pressure Cholesterol—Total LDL cholesterol HDL cholesterol Triglycerides

Suggested Goals Below 7% Below 130/80 mg/dL Below 200 mg/dL Below 100 mg/dL Above 40 mg/dL Below 150 mg/dL

Source: National Diabetes Education Program (www.ndep.nih.gov/i-have-diabetes/KnowYourABCs.aspx).

American Diabetes Month November is American Diabetes Month, a campaign from the American Diabetes Association that aims to help people learn more about the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of preventing and controlling the disease.

The campaign encourages people to get involved by sharing, acting, learning, and giving.

To learn more about how you can help, go to www.diabetes.org.

Minimizing Your

Diabetes Risk

People with HIV can help prevent diabetes or help keep it under control by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking medication, if necessary.

Diabetes treatments can be initiated when prevention efforts aren’t enough.

A

s people with HIV are living longer, healthcare providers are becoming increasingly vigilant about chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Diabetes, a chronic condition, can cause significant damage if it goes uncontrolled for long periods of time.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder of how the body uses digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food people eat is broken down into glucose, a form of sugar in the blood that acts as the main source of fuel for the body. After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it’s used by cells for growth and energy.

For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. When people eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from the blood into the cells.

In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin or the cells don’t respond to the insulin that is produced. Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body in the urine. As a result, the body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.

Common Types of Diabetes There are several types of diabetes, but the most common are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes accounts

for 5% to 10% of diagnosed diabetes cases in the United States.

It develops most often in children and young adults, but it can appear at any age. About 90% to 95% of diabetes cases are type 2.

This type is most often associated with older age, obesity, a family history of diabetes, a history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities. About 3% to 8% of pregnant women in the U.S. develop gestational diabetes. It usually disappears after the birth of a baby, but women who have had gestational diabetes have a 40% to 60% chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years.

Living With HIV & Diabetes Experts recommend that people living with HIV and diabetes be monitored with fasting blood glucose testing before starting anti-HIV drugs, and then every 3 to 6 months thereafter. An oral glucose tolerance test is also recommended in patients with risk factors for diabetes. It’s important to discuss with your doctor how your HIV drug regimen may be affected by diabetes. Different treatment options are available, but consider them only after consulting your healthcare provider.

Tried & True Strategies A good way to help keep diabetes in check is to follow the “ABCs” of diabetes. ABC stands for A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

The A1C test tells you your blood glucose measurement over the last 3 months. It’s important to keep the ABC levels at suggested goals to keep diabetes under control (see Table right).

Self-Care Goes a Long Way The treatment of diabetes will typically involve physicians, nurses, dieticians, and other healthcare professionals, but people living with HIV and diabetes must also care for themselves at home each day by eating right, exercising regularly, monitoring blood glucose levels, and taking medications to keep the disease under control.

Diet, Exercise, & Smoking Cessation. People with diabetes should exercise for 150 minutes per week at moderate intensity. Both aerobic and strength training are helpful. To maintain a healthy weight, diets should limit saturated fats, concentrated sweets, and alcohol. Nutritional plans can be tailored to you by working together with a registered dietician. Smoking cessation is also critical to cutting your risk of diabetic complications, especially heart disease.

Monitor Blood Glucose Levels. People with diabetes on insulin should check their blood glucose on their own at least 3 times a day. Blood glucose should be between 70 mg/dL and 130 mg/ dL before meals and no higher than 180 mg/dL 1 to 2 hours after meals. In addition to blood glucose monitoring, regularly check blood pressure and cholesterol.

Medications. Drugs and/or insulin may be necessary to reach and maintain tight glucose control and reduce your risk for diabetes complications.

Healthcare providers will work with you to determine the medications that are needed to keep diabetes under control while also considering your HIV drug regimen.

Source: TheBody.com (www.thebody.com/content/treat/art52219.html).

Table

The ABCs of Diabetes

ABCs A1C Blood Pressure Cholesterol—Total LDL cholesterol HDL cholesterol Triglycerides

Suggested Goals Below 7% Below 130/80 mg/dL Below 200 mg/dL Below 100 mg/dL Above 40 mg/dL Below 150 mg/dL

Source: National Diabetes Education Program (www.ndep.nih.gov/i-have-diabetes/KnowYourABCs.aspx).

American Diabetes Month November is American Diabetes Month, a campaign from the American Diabetes Association that aims to help people learn more about the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of preventing and controlling the disease.

The campaign encourages people to get involved by sharing, acting, learning, and giving.

To learn more about how you can help, go to www.diabetes.org.