April 2012
Understanding Medicare Coverage
Medicare is a federally funded program that covers certain health care expenses for people age 65 or older.
Medicare benefits are divided into the following parts:
- Part A – Hospitalization Insurance: No monthly premiums are paid.
- Part B – Medical Insurance: An optional program with a monthly premium that most Medicare recipients participate in...
February 2012
Are Your Diabetes Supplies Covered?
Most health plans cover diabetes supplies, but some do not. Insurance coverage can be confusing, and you might not know whom to ask for help. Make the most of your benefits by finding out how your plan covers your diabetes supplies.
Coverage for diabetes supplies is important because:- Most health plans realize that blood sugar monitoring is necessary to manage and control diabetes, thereby preventing costly complications.
- Many state and federal Medicare laws now require health plans to cover some percentage of diabetes supplies. Some require you to pay up front and then they reimburse you for a certain percentage...
February 2012
Understanding Insurance Coverage
Most Americans with health coverage are covered by one of these plans.
Group or Individual Private Health InsuranceYour employer might contract a large health plan to manage employees' health benefits. As an employee, you might have health plan options, such as a choice of a fee-for-service plan, a Preferred Provider Organization(PPO), or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). The options usually have different costs...
February 2012
The Facts About Impaired Glucose Tolerance
People who develop type 2 diabetes usually experience two preliminary stages: insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the pancreas manages to pump enough insulin to bring down blood sugar levels, but with levels of insulin much higher than normal.
Over time, a person with insulin resistance secretes more and more insulin to move the same amount of glucose into the cells, where it is needed for energy. In many people, this ability to compensate eventually breaks down. When this happens, blood sugar levels begin to climb, despite the high levels of insulin produced by the pancreas...
January 2012
Lifestyle Changes and Type 2 Diabetes
You might be wondering if lifestyle changes — like losing excess weight, exercising, and following a specific meal plan — really help control blood sugar. Read on and decide for yourself.
A Case Study of Lifestyle ChangesMedical researchers are able to learn about certain conditions by studying groups of people who tend to get a certain disease more often than the general population.
The example of the Pima Indians has taught us much about type 2 diabetes and, most significantly, has confirmed that lifestyle changes can make a huge difference in controlling the disease...
December 2011
Develop a Better Weight Loss Strategy
Weight Loss and Lifestyle
For someone with diabetes, the benefits of just a 5% weight loss can include:
- Improved blood sugar
- Improved use of insulin
- Reduced need for diabetes medications
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduced risk of heart disease and other long-term health problems
- Improved appearance, energy level, and self-esteem
It's important to select a weight loss goal that is achievable, maintainable, and com...
November 2011
Know Your Meds; Know Your Pharmacist
Medications are a vital part of diabetes management, so knowing your pharmacist and being able to communicate about your medications is a plus. Choosing one pharmacy to fill all of your prescriptions will help the pharmacist keep track of your medications and recognize potential interaction concerns.
Tips for Prescription and Medication Safety
- Each time you get a new prescription, ask the pharmacist to look at your profile and check for interactions.
- When you bring home a medication refill, double-check the name on the bottle, the medication name, and the dose. Also, compare the new pills with the old ones. Pill colors and sizes do change, so if there is a discrepancy, call your pharmacist...
September 2011
How to Cut Cholesterol When You Have Diabetes
Did you know that people with diabetes are at a greater risk of heart disease? According to a survey by the American Diabetes Association®, many people don't.1 The survey showed that more than two-thirds (68%) of people with diabetes don't consider heart disease to be a serious complication of diabetes. But in fact, heart attacks occur at an earlier age for people with diabetes, and often have more severe outcomes. Because high cholesterol can be a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, now is the time to cut it down to healthy levels.
Pinpoint the Problem
Research shows that the majority of people with diabetes have one or more cholesterol problems, including high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, low HDL (good) cholesterol levels, and increased triglycerides (fat stored in body cells). The only way to tell if your cholesterol is out of the normal range is to have a blood test...
August 2011
5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Whether you're new to diabetes or an experienced veteran, it's important to communicate any concerns or questions you have to your doctor. You might find it helpful to prepare a written list of questions to ask your doctor before each visit to make sure you don't forget to ask anything.
Here are some suggested questions to help get you started.
- How often should I check my blood sugar?
- Blood sugar monitoring is an essential part of a good diabetes management plan. According to the American Diabetes Association®, tight control for adults with diabetes is defined as a fasting level of 70 to 130 mg/dL and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after the start of a meal...
- Blood sugar monitoring is an essential part of a good diabetes management plan. According to the American Diabetes Association®, tight control for adults with diabetes is defined as a fasting level of 70 to 130 mg/dL and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after the start of a meal...
August 2011
8 Easy Ways to Control Your Diabetes
If your to-do list keeps getting longer, it can be hard to stay on track with good diabetes management. Here are a few simple tips to help you find balance (despite your busy lifestyle).
Eat Right on the Run
- Pack a snack, such as a Glucerna® Snack Shake or Snack Bar.
- Limit sugary drinks. Instead, choose water, unsweetened tea, or diet soda.
- Use reduced-calorie dressing on salads.
- Eat mindfully. By really tasting and enjoying food, you'll feel more satisfied...
June 2011
Traveling With Diabetic Supplies
Check out these tips for traveling with your diabetes medications and insulin:
- Consult your health care team and pharmacist to determine how to carry insulin and other medications that require refrigeration.
- Use a small, insulated lunch bag with an ice pack to carry your supplies, especially for long trips.
- Look for a miniature needle or lancet disposal box that fits into the bag/pack in which you are carrying insulin, syringes, and lancets...
June 2011
The Early Stages of Type 2 Diabetes
Understanding Insulin and Insulin Resistance
The human body is not meant to have high levels of circulating insulin. High insulin levels may keep blood sugar levels normal, or near normal; but in some people, the potential damage to health can be significant.
Some of the problems that occur when a person has high circulating levels of insulin and insulin resistance include:
- Triglyceride levels increase...
June 2011
What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?
If you or a loved one has type 2 diabetes, you might be wondering why the disease has seemingly occurred suddenly. You've probably heard all sorts of explanations about the causes of diabetes. Let's examine some of these risk factors.
Genetics
Everyone is born with a certain set of genes that defines many of their physical characteristics, from hair and eye color to their risk for certain diseases. Some people have a genetic predisposition, or family tendency, to developing type 2 diabetes.Race
People of certain races, including Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans, have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes...
June 2011
Why Are People With Diabetes More at Risk for Heart Disease?
Did you know that a person with diabetes has the same risk for heart disease as someone who has already had a heart attack? People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than people without the disease. Fortunately, you can decrease that risk by making certain lifestyle changes.
Diabetes alters your body functions and changes how hard your heart works by worsening the composition of fats in the blood, including bad cholesterol (LDL), good cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides, and causing arteries to become thick and stiff. This hardening of the arteries can happen earlier in people with diabetes. The condition makes the heart work harder, affects blood pressure and circulation, and can lead to heart attack or stroke...
