Chronic disease management in Brookfield
Chronic diseases are health conditions that last a long time, like diabetes or high blood pressure. Our internal medicine doctors help adults and older adults keep them under control, year after year.
- Medicare accepted
- Dr. Ghani and Dr. Gill
- Brookfield, IL
Chronic disease management is steady care for conditions that last. Examples are diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, COPD, thyroid disease and arthritis. At Maple Medical Center in Brookfield, IL, Dr. Ghani and Dr. Gill follow your condition with regular visits, tests and medicine reviews. Call (708) 485-4050.
What chronic disease management means
A chronic disease is one that lasts a long time. It usually can’t be cured, but it can often be controlled.
Good control matters. Keeping blood sugar and blood pressure in range lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney damage.
Management means steady, regular care. You and your doctor watch the numbers, adjust medicines and plan the next steps together. You are the most important part of the team. You take the medicines, check the numbers at home and notice how you feel.
Dr. Ghani and Dr. Gill are both board certified in internal medicine. Caring for adults with long-term conditions is a core part of that specialty.
Conditions we help manage
Diabetes
A1C blood tests, blood sugar goals, medicine reviews and talks about yearly eye and foot exams.
Learn more ›High blood pressure
Regular checks, home readings and medicine changes to help you reach your goal.
Learn more ›Heart disease and high cholesterol
Cholesterol tests, EKGs and a plan to lower your heart risk. Your doctor can work with your heart specialist, if you have one.
COPD and asthma
COPD is a long-term lung disease that makes breathing hard. Care includes breathing tests, inhaler reviews and a plan for bad days.
Thyroid conditions
Blood tests to check your thyroid levels and adjust your medicine dose when needed.
Arthritis
Help with joint pain, staying active and choosing pain medicines that are safe with your other conditions.
What ongoing care looks like
Regular visits
How often you come in depends on your condition and how stable it is. Your doctor will suggest a schedule.
Checks and tests
Your doctor tracks key numbers, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol or breathing.
Medicine review
Your doctor goes over every medicine, asks about side effects and adjusts doses when needed.
Daily habits
You talk about food, activity, sleep and smoking. Small, steady changes can help a lot.
A plan between visits
Ask what to watch for at home, and when to call us. Write it down so you remember.
Tests we offer in our office
| Test | What it checks | Often used for |
|---|---|---|
| EKG (electrocardiogram) | The electrical activity of your heart | Heart rhythm, chest symptoms and heart disease |
| Lab blood draw | Blood sugar, A1C, cholesterol, kidney and thyroid levels | Diabetes, cholesterol, thyroid and medicine safety |
| Breathing test (pulmonary function test) | How much air you breathe out, and how fast | COPD and asthma |
| X-ray | Pictures of bones, joints and the chest | Arthritis, lung and chest problems |
Having tests done close to home
Having common tests in the same office as your doctor can save you an extra trip. That can matter a lot if driving is hard for you.
Ask your doctor what each result means for you. Keeping your own copies helps if you see other doctors.
Some blood tests need you to fast first, and some don’t. Ask when you book so you can plan ahead.
See our in-office testing page for the full list.
Managing your medicines
Many people with long-term conditions take several medicines. Each one can affect the others. As we age, the body may also handle medicines differently.
Bring all your pill bottles to your visits, including vitamins and supplements. That helps your doctor spot doubles, interactions and side effects.
Please don’t stop a prescribed medicine on your own. If one bothers you, call us first.
Keep an up-to-date list of your medicines in your wallet. Show it to every doctor and pharmacist you see. Using one pharmacy also helps catch interactions.
When you have more than one condition
Many adults, especially older adults, live with two or more long-term conditions. Treating one can affect another.
For example, some over-the-counter pain relievers can raise blood pressure. That matters if you have arthritis and high blood pressure.
An internist is trained to look at all your conditions together. That is a key reason to have one main doctor. Your doctor also weighs what matters most to you, like staying active.
If you also see a specialist, bring their reports to your visits. Our page on care for older adults has more on managing several conditions.
When to call us between visits
Call our office if you notice any of these. For sudden or severe symptoms, see the note at the bottom of this page.
- Blood sugar readings that are higher or lower than your usual range
- Home blood pressure readings above your goal for several days
- New swelling in your feet or ankles
- More shortness of breath than usual with daily activities
- New side effects after a medicine change
- Feeling more tired, dizzy or unsteady than usual
Before your first visit
We accept many insurance plans, including Medicare, but not every plan. Call (708) 485-4050 and we’ll check yours before your visit. You can also read our insurance page.
Bring your medicines, recent test results and the names of your other doctors. That helps us pick up where your last doctor left off. If you are switching doctors, ask your old office to send your records.
Questions we hear about chronic conditions
How often will I need to come in?
It depends on your condition and how well it is controlled. New or changing conditions usually need more visits. Once things are stable, visits may be less frequent. Your doctor will suggest a schedule.
What is an A1C test?
An A1C is a blood test that shows your average blood sugar over about the past three months. It helps you and your doctor see how well diabetes is controlled. Blood for this test can be drawn in our office.
Should I check my blood pressure at home?
Home readings can help. The USPSTF recommends readings outside the office to confirm high blood pressure before treatment starts. Bring your monitor and a log of your readings to a visit. Your doctor can check that the cuff fits and the numbers make sense.
Can you help with COPD or asthma?
Internists often care for adults with COPD and asthma. A breathing test can be done in our office. Some people also need a lung specialist, and your doctor can help you decide.
Do I still need a primary care doctor if I see a specialist?
Yes. A specialist focuses on one part of your health. Your primary care doctor looks at everything together, including how your medicines mix. Bring your specialists’ reports to your visits.
Can a chronic disease get better?
Many chronic diseases can’t be cured, but they can often be controlled. Some people are able to lower their medicine doses after changes in weight, food or activity. Talk with your doctor before changing anything.
What if my medicines cost too much?
Tell your doctor. There may be lower-cost options, such as generic versions of the same medicine. Your pharmacist and your insurance plan can also help you compare prices.
Related care
Diabetes care
Dr. Ghani and Dr. Gill help adults and older adults keep type 2 diabetes under control. We check your numbers, review your medicines and talk through food choices with you.
Learn more ›High blood pressure
High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms, but it strains your heart, brain and kidneys. Dr. Ghani and Dr. Gill help adults and older adults find it, track it and bring it down safely.
Learn more ›In-office testing
Several tests your doctor may order can be done right here in our office on Ogden Avenue. That can mean fewer trips to other buildings.
Learn more ›Care for older adults
Health care often gets more involved after 65. There are more medicines, more doctors and more questions. Our internal medicine doctors help older adults and their families keep it all in one place.
Learn more ›Ready to see a doctor who knows you?
Call our Brookfield office and our team will find a time that works for you. We accept many insurance plans, including Medicare, but not every plan. We’ll check yours before your visit.
Important information
This page is general information, not medical advice. Please don’t start, stop or change a medicine without talking with your doctor.
If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.