Who is it for?

An autoimmune disease is a type of chronic disease where the body attacks its own healthy cells. There are many types of autoimmune diseases and some common ones are:

• lupus
• scleroderma
• diabetes

What are some symptoms of these autoimmune diseases?

Common symptoms with lupus or scleroderma include:

• digestion problems
• feeling tired and having trouble sleeping
• lung and breathing problems
• nausea
• pain
• skin problems
• kidney problems

People can often manage diabetes with help from a health care team. But some people have serious health problems because of diabetes. These include:

• heart problems
• infections
• amputations (e.g., losing a foot)
• kidney problems
• nerve problems that cause pain and problems moving

How can palliative and end-of-life care help people with autoimmune disease?

Not all autoimmune diseases cause chronic health problems. But many do, and people can live a long time with an autoimmune disease. When a person has chronic symptoms, palliative care can give extra support. Palliative and end-of-life care can help to:

• answer questions
• manage symptoms
• give emotional support
• find other supports if people need to transition (e.g., go from home to hospital) for care​​​​