About the Addison's Disease Self Help Group

This leaflet, About the Addisons Disease Self Help Group outlines the scope of the Addison's Disease Self Help Group.

This leaflet is designed to help people with Addison's, their carers, medics and other interested parties to understand our work and how we can support those with Addison's and Adrenal Insufficiency.

The leaflet covers the following information:

What we do
Why our work is important
How we started
How we work today
About the Addison's Clinical Advisory Panel
A brief History of Addison's
The 20th century development of life-giving medication
It is possible to lead a 'normal' life with Addison's.
The deadly risks of Adrenal Crisis
Addison's: How rare is it?

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Download printer friendly version (Black and White version that includes new accessibility improvements to support people with visual impairments).

Latest

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Meet Ingrid who has recently taken up a new hobby, going to the gym. Here Ingrid hopes to inspire others to get exercising this New Year while also reminding us of the importance of managing your Addison’s too.
Shona’s Addison's Afternoon Tea Fundraiser

I'm raising money for the Addison's Disease Self-Help Group so that they can continue to support people with Addison's and adrenal insufficiency. Addison’s is a rare endocrine condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones and can be life threatening. It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people, meaning an estimated 300 - 350 new cases are diagnosed each year across the UK, this makes it roughly 300 times rarer than diabetes.
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ADSHG Posters

Help raise awareness of Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency by sharing our posters.
RCGP Poster: Information for your GP

Our RCGP poster is an A4 printout that can be used to let your GP know about the RCGP course on Addison's and adrenal insufficiency.
Surgical Guidelines

The ADSHG surgical guidelines are intended for the information of your medical team or your dentist and have been developed by our Clinical Advisory Panel.
What is Addison's Leaflet?

Our leaflet, 'What is Addison's', was developed for use in education settings by the ADSHG with support of our Clinical Advisory Panel (CAP), led by Professor John Wass. It provides an introduction to the condition, it's history, treatment and some of the people who've lived full and active lives while managing Addison's Disease.
Steroid Emergency Cards

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Download the CoMICs diagnosis of Addison's disease infographics and accompanying article "Think Addison's disease - save a life", as featured in the Guardian newspaper.
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How to give an emergency injection - leaflets for your kit

Having the instructions for your injection kit helps you, or anyone coming to your aid, to inject you. We have a selection of guides your can print, fold and add to your kit. Be careful to choose instructions that match the type of medication that you have available.
Printable Hospital Stickers

The ADSHG drugs chart steroid alert stickers are intended for people with Addison's to take with them for day case and inpatient surgical procedures to alert nursing and medical staff to their steroid-dependence and their time-critical need for steroid medication when unwell.
Diagnosing Addison's Disease : A Guide For GPs

Our leaflet, 'Diagnosing Addison's: a guide for GPs', has been developed for the ADSHG by our Clinical Advisory Panel (CAP), led by Professor John Wass. It outlines the role of the GP in the early detection of Addison's.

Sick Day Rules

Minor ailments can affect anyone with a steroid-dependent adrenal condition very differently. Things like vomiting, diarrhoea, colds and flu could cause an adrenal crisis. It’s important that you spot the early symptoms of a bug or cold and adjust your steroid replacement medication.
Adrenal Crisis - Emergency Help

Adrenal crisis is a time-critical, life-threatening emergency and must be treated immediately. Read the guidance on treating a steroid-dependent patient in adrenal crisis.
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Find out more about Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency and and how they are treated.
The Emergency Injection for the treatment of Adrenal Crisis

Understanding what an Emergency Injection kit is, how to inject and how important it is to use the injection during an Adrenal Crisis.
Why Salt?

Why do people with Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency crave salty, acidic and sour foods at diagnosis, and then salt remains our “pick me up” when diagnosed? Professor Simon Pearce explains the connection between aldosterone, fludrocortisone and why you should always listen to your salt cravings.
Coronavirus Vaccines and Adrenal Insufficiency

Everyone with a steroid-dependent adrenal condition should get the coronavirus vaccine and boosters to reduce their risk of getting coronavirus. This is because people who are steroid-dependent are at increased risk of needing hospital care if they get coronavirus, due to the risk of adrenal crisis.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 02/10/2023

Our medics have been keeping an eye on pandemic developments. This page is up to date but we will continue updating it regularly as we find out more information from the government.
Updated NHS Steroid Card Released

Following the early release of the new NHS Steroid Emergency Card back in March to keep patients with Addison's or adrenal insufficiency safe during the COVID-19 crisis, the NHS steroid card has been updated and physical copies will be available to order from Tuesday 18th August 2020 for hospital teams!
Addison's & Adrenal Insufficiency: Advice for Dentists

The ADSHG guidelines offer illustrative guidance for major and minor dental procedures. It is important to recognise the physical stress of any invasive dental procedure and to ensure that adequate glucocorticoid cover is provided for steroid-dependent patients.
Surgical Guidelines

The ADSHG surgical guidelines are intended for the information of your medical team or your dentist and have been developed by our Clinical Advisory Panel.

Research Grants

Our charity is at the forefront of medical research into Addison's Disease. Help us fund medical researchers working in this important field of endocrine research. Read more