Patient Empowerment Pulse

  When you live with chronic illness, self-care isn’t optional—it’s survival. But self-care isn’t all bubble baths and expensive skincare (unless that’s your thing). It’s about finding tools that genuinely make life easier, reduce pain, and help you stay as functional as possible on the hard days. Here are 10 self-care products that I’ve personally tested (or had highly recommended by other chronically ill folks), spanning comfort, pain relief, and practical day-to-day survival. 1. Heating Pad or Heated Blanket Why It Matters: Heat therapy isn’t just comforting—it can help with muscle pain, joint stiffness, cramps, and even some types of nerve pain. Personally, I sleep with mine underneath me to help manage my ankylosing spondylitis. It keeps my hips and lower back from locking up overnight, and I wake up with far less pain. A full-body heated blanket can be game-changing for flare days. Pro Tip: Look for one with adjustable heat levels and auto shut-off. 2. Pill Organizer w...

When most people think about high blood sugar, they picture sugary snacks or carb-heavy meals. But if you live with an autoimmune disease like lupus, Sjogren’s, or rheumatoid arthritis, your blood sugar can spike even if your diet is spotless. Inflammation itself can push your glucose higher. This connection between your immune system and your blood sugar is often overlooked, but understanding it can help you manage both your flares and your metabolic health more effectively. What Happens During an Autoimmune Flare When your immune system launches an inflammatory response, your body sees it as an emergency. It releases stress hormones like cortisol to help deal with the perceived threat. Cortisol does a lot of things, but one of its key roles is to raise blood sugar to make sure you have enough energy to fight the “attack.” In autoimmune disease, your body is attacking itself, so these stress hormones flood your system unnecessarily—and your blood sugar pays the price. Even If You Do...

When you think about blood sugar spikes, your mind probably jumps straight to carbs, sweets, and sugary drinks. But if you’re living with diabetes or working to manage your blood sugar, it’s important to know that food isn’t the only culprit. Everyday life is full of unexpected triggers that can send your glucose soaring—even when your plate is perfectly balanced. Here are five non-food triggers that can cause surprising blood sugar spikes, plus what you can do to protect your numbers. 1. Stress Stress isn’t just in your head—it’s in your bloodstream too. When you’re stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, both of which can raise blood sugar. This is part of the body’s natural fight-or-flight response, but for people with diabetes (or anyone watching glucose), it can make blood sugar harder to control. What to Do: Build stress management into your daily routine. Breathing exercises, short walks, gentle movement, and mindfulness practices can all help lower...