Once you have received the required prescription for Medicare-covered diabetes supplies from your physician, you must
take it to a Medicare-enrolled pharmacy or supplier. The pharmacy or supplier must submit claims for supplies on your behalf.
Remember ...
you cannot submit a claim for blood glucose monitor test strips yourself.
Two important questions to ask your pharmacy or supplier before you submit your prescription are:
1. Are you enrolled in Medicare?
2. Do you accept assignment?
If the answer to either of these two questions is "no," call another pharmacy or supplier until you find one that can answer "yes" to be sure your purchase is covered by Medicare and to save money.
Many seniors find mail order Medicare diabetes supply companies a convenient alternative. They just set up an account online or via a free phone call and their diabetes test supplies arrive conveniently in the mail.
The government estimates that one in five people of Medicare age are diabetic. Medicare Part B covers certain supplies for beneficiaries with diabetes. These supplies include:
--Blood glucose self-testing equipment and supplies;
--Therapeutic shoes and inserts; and
--Insulin pumps and the insulin used in the pumps.
If you require blood glucose self-testing equipment and supplies, Medicare Part B covers:
--Blood glucose monitors;
--Blood glucose test strips;
--Lancet devices and lancets; and
--Glucose control solutions for checking the accuracy of testing equipment and test strips.
And Medicare Part B covers the same type of blood glucose testing supplies for people with diabetes whether or not they need insulin ... but you'll need a prescription from your doctor for any testing equipment or supplies.
Your doctor will know what must be included on a prescription, but it is best to be an educated consumer and learn about Medicare's requirements. Your prescription must include your diabetes diagnosis, what kind of blood glucose monitor you need and why (if, for instance, you need a special monitor because of vision problems, your doctor must explain that). The prescription will indicate if you need to use insulin and how often you should test your blood glucose.
The number of diabetes patients is currently increasing exponentially, and diabetes professionals are finding it difficult to keep track of all the treatment options available. It can be difficult to provide specialized care when one physician provides frequent care for dozens of patients.
Col. Robert Vigersky, director of the Diabetes Institute at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, doesn't think that the answer lies in a better diabetic device. He believes that a computerized system is the key to improving quality of care for diabetic seniors. With a computer program to keep track of all the information necessary to treat a patient, the physician could spend more time caring for the patient and less time asking routine questions.
Such a system, Vigersky says, would use data from blood glucose monitors, medications, and guidelines to recommend adjustments to existing treatments. Vigersky has developed a plan for an automated system and presented it at a diabetes technology conference in San Francisco.
Blood glucose monitors tend to be conspicuous and burdensome. Diabetics often need to perform their tests in public, and this can be an embarrassing or stressful experience. Because people have to take time out of their daily schedules to test, the need for frequent testing disrupts busy lives.
One solution is an implantable microchip that will detect blood glucose levels. The microchip will transmit test results to a wireless device which the patient can read without doing any self-testing. MicroCHIPS, Inc., is one company developing this technology. The chips are made to be implanted just under the skin and provide highly accurate readings for a full year.
This device is a promising new product for diabetes management.
Orsense Ltd., a medical technology company operating in Nes Ziona, Israel, recently launched its NBM-200G non-invasive continuous glucose monitor. Developers aimed to make this technology as simple and pain-free as possible. Their goal is to improve the likelihood that users will follow the strict glucose level monitoring regimen necessary for diabetes patients.
This non-invasive monitor operates by applying pressure to a patient's finger and temporarily stopping blood flow. A sensor then carefully measures the light that shines through the finger to ascertain blood glucose levels. This monitor has been found to be just as accurate as invasive monitors, but it is much more comfortable and safer to use. The new technology avoids taking frequent blood samples from slow-to-heal diabetes patients, an uncomfortable process that carries the risk of infection.
This new product is in the last stages of development.
Diabetes is becoming a dangerous epidemic. At least 171 million people have diabetes worldwide, and the World Health Organization predicts that the number of diabetics will more than double by 2030.
Luckily, the quality of diabetes care is improving steadily. Physicians and patients are practicing better preventive behaviors by treating prediabetes with diet and exercise and by diagnosing the disease earlier. Laboratory technology and blood sugar meters are becoming more accurate almost daily. Many new ways of managing diabetes and many new inventions are on the horizon: devices like the continuous glucose monitor and methods like alternate site testing are only the beginning.
There are still many difficulties ahead in the struggle to reverse the exponential growth of diabetes rates, but those with diabetes can look forward to continuing improvements in their health care.
We all know that exercise is healthy, but for diabetic seniors, it can be life-changing. Walking is the most accessible form of exercise. No gym membership is required. Physical activity such as walking helps to reduce stress, increase self-esteem, and maintain a healthy weight.
And don't forget that exercise also lowers blood glucose levels. Glucose levels are lowered when the muscles burn glucose for energy. The muscles also absorb glucose from the blood during and after exercise in order to replenish their stores. Exercise can also improve the body's ability to use insulin.
There's no downside to exercising. But before you start any regular exercise program, it is important to discuss it with your doctor.
Take some time to get outside and walk around the neighborhood. If the weather is a problem, you can walk around a shopping mall. The simple act of walking can be a great start to a healthy routine. You can walk with friends and family - or your favorite dog. Diabetic seniors can manage their diabetes and and walk their way to better health.
Researchers at MIT are developing a continuous glucose monitor tattoo. How will this revolutionary technology work?
Now in the early stages of testing and with many years until human trials begin, this new invention may revolutionize diabetes disease management.
The tattoo will consist of an ink made of tiny nano-tubes, which are frequently used in different types of nanotechnology. These tubes are filled with a type of chemical gel that reacts with blood glucose to cause changes in the fluorescence of the tattoo. A small device, resembling a wrist-watch, is worn over the skin on the tattoo site. An infrared light picks up on the changes in fluorescence and converts it into a glucose level reading.
The researchers at MIT are aiming to make this technology extremely long-lasting. According to leading researcher Michael Strano, the ink may not break down for as long as six months. Because the ink remains effective for so long, it will be able to provide continuous readings. New developments like this are causing great excitement in the world of diabetes treatment.
Many people in America lack the information they need to manage their diabetes. Testing blood glucose levels alone is not effective unless combined with up-to-date information about how to manage diabetes. Sometimes people lack vital information because they don't have insurance coverage, time, or transportation to classes or support groups.
The good news is that online diabetes programs can help manage diabetes at home without any additional cost. These programs can be used to select the right products, and to help keep track of your glucose test results and other records. Other programs make it easier for you to stay well informed about the latest diabetes news.
The Diabetes Care Club helps its members navigate the complex world of diabetes testing equipment. It provides members with access to the best testing supplies and assistance in filing Medicare claims. One click and the Club's experts can help provide you with information you need to stay healthy.
Many of the best glucose monitors today include software and online programs along with the diabetes kits. What's all the fuss about using your computer when testing for diabetes, anyway? Wouldn't that just complicate things?
In fact, doctors and patients alike are discovering that using computer software greatly improves both the ease and effectiveness of controlling glucose levels. Many online programs and software, such as the Roche Diagnostics Diabetes Assistant, store far more of your results than a blood glucose monitor does.
Most new monitors can import your testing results directly onto your computer so you don't have to type them in yourself. Diabetes software programs often track:
- diet history and goals
- medications
- fitness level
- blood pressure
- blood glucose levels
By recording your overall diabetic history, these programs track information that is important to to you and your healthcare providers and help you maintain control of diabetes.
When looking to buy diabetic supplies, you should consider the True Track Smart System, an affordable yet high-performance monitor.
It uses an extremely small sample size: only one microliter blood sample per test. Small samples minimize the pain associated with glucose testing. They also mean that alternate site testing -- pricking the arm, leg, or palm of your hand -- may be an option if approved by your doctor.
The Smart System's monitor turns on automatically when you insert the test strips, and provides results in only 10 seconds. It stores up to 365 tests and can be programmed to provide average results on a weekly or monthly basis. It even allows you to upload results onto True Track computer software. Overall, True Track provides an excellent tool for type 2 diabetes management.
Some patients seeking treatments for diabetes have difficulty seeing or reading the results on a normal diabetes blood glucose meter. For these individuals, modern technology has provided a way for them to continue testing for diabetes at home. Visually-impaired patients can take advantage of a talking glucose meter.
This innovation is useful for type 2 diabetes patients who are blind and also those who just don't enjoy having to find their glasses to read small digital displays.
There are a number of talking meters on the market, so consult with your doctor or another medical professional about which one best suits your needs. But all are designed to be easy to use. A few seconds after inserting the blood sample, the meter "speaks," providing the blood sugar reading. Some talking meters can read the barcode of an insulin bottle and state what type it is. The technology is designed to help ensure that patients take the proper medication every time.
Many diabetes monitors look alike, but in reality, there are many different types. Modern blood glucose monitors are faster and more compact, and they do not require as much blood for each sample as the older models do. However, even the small sample of blood required for a test can make fingertips sore after repeated tests over a long period of time.
There are many advances in monitors that can help avoid or minimize sore fingers.
- Some monitors use only very small sample and can therefore be used for alternate site testing. Testing the palm or forearm, for example, gives the fingers a much-needed break.
- A continuous glucose monitor can greatly decrease the hassle of daily testing. A sensor is placed under the skin and worn for several days. This type of monitor provides continuous information about glucose levels with a minimum of lancing.
Look into these other types of systems before ordering your diabetes home test. Maybe you'll find a less-conventional system that is right for you!
Diabetes test strips are an important tool for controlling glucose levels and preventing hyperglycemia.There are many different brands to choose from, for example:
- Freestyle Glucose Strips
- Onetouch Test Strips
- Onetouch Ultra Test Strips
- Roche Test Strips
- True Track Test Strips
- Trueread Test Strips
- Wavesense Test Strips
- Wavesense Presto Test Strips
Each type has different benefits and limitations. For instance, Wavesense Presto Test Strips only work with the Wavesense Presto Blood Glucose Monitoring System, whereas True Track Test Strips only use a one microliter blood sample per test. In any case, make sure you thoroughly weigh the pros and cons. Consult with your physician and the staff of the Diabetes Care Club to learn which diabetes test strips will work best for your medical needs and your budget.
Type 2 diabetes patients have to learn about the complex system that regulates blood glucose levels. A blood glucose level is the amount of glucose, or sugar, that is present in your blood. Glucose is the main source of energy for your body.
Your glucose levels fluctuate throughout the day, but you have hormones which increase blood glucose and a chemical called insulin which decreases blood glucose, and your body uses these systems to regulate your levels throughout the day.
However, type 2 diabetes patients develop resistance to insulin or an insulin deficiency, and therefore have too much sugar in their blood. This serious condition will progress with increasing health complications if untreated, but can be counteracted by exercise, a change in diet, and, if necessary, medication. Whatever the treatment, a blood glucose monitor is necessary to make sure glucose levels remain within a healthy range.
The first blood glucose monitor was developed in 1962 by Leland Clark and Ann Lyons. In the 1970's, the average glucose meter was 10 inches long, required an electrical outlet, and took at least a minute to give a reading.
Luckily for us, type 2 diabetes testing technology has improved a lot in recent years. Now, meters such as Abbott meters use a simple numeric display which requires no coding. This type of meter is the best glucose test, since it is so easy to use, requires only a tiny blood sample to give blood sugar readings, and the meter itself is small enough to make traveling easy and worry-free.
Do you have type 2 diabetes?
If the answer is yes, then you need to take extra precautions to ensure your blood sugar levels remain stable. The best way to control glucose levels is to buy diabetic supplies and monitor your blood sugar levels at home.
The best glucose test for you is the system you find easiest to use. The simpler the test, the more effective your diabetes management system will be. Talk to a medical professional about which system will work for you.
Remember, type 2 diabetes testing should be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle. Under your doctor's supervision, you should have regular physical and eye exams, immunizations, dental care, exercise, and maintain a healthy diet. With improved habits and regular blood sugar readings, you can control your diabetes and enjoy a healthier and happier life.
Taking blood sugar readings every day is an important consideration when thinking about how to manage diabetes. Keeping those levels within a healthy range through diet, exercise, and medication requires that you check up on your levels with a diabetes monitor.
Most patients test their insulin levels at least once a day, but for many it's important to test before meals and before bed, and sometimes even after meals to ensure that your body is regulating its glucose effectively.
The ideal levels of glucose for an adult with diabetes would range between 70 and 130 mg/dl before a meal. Levels should be below 180 after a meal. Consult with your doctor about your glucose levels. But generally speaking, glucose levels outside the range of 70-180 mg/dl is cause for concern, and likely requires some changes on your part. So keep testing, and keep those readings regular!
I know that living with a condition like type 2 diabetes can seem like a major hassle, and an expensive one at that. There are just so many things to keep track of. You need to manage your diet, make time for exercise and extra doctor visits, understand your blood glucose level test, and make room in the budget for prescription treatments for diabetes.
The good news is that with Medicare benefits, even the best blood glucose meter can prove to be cheap diabetic supplies.
Medicare will often pay for most of your expenses. In fact, it covers as much as 80% of the cost of basic supplies. With luck, private insurance may cover the balance, leaving you with what are essentially free diabetes testing supplies. Check now to see whether you qualify for Medicare coverage.
By doing your homework, you could end up fully supplied with highest quality diabetic products, all delivered right to your door for free!
While a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes may seem like a bad thing, you can take advantage of having the diagnosis. Be proactive about your disease, and get educated. There are so many tools available to help you learn to control type 2 diabetes.
One way to be proactive is to use a diabetes blood glucose monitor at least four times a day. Be sure that you're controlling your blood glucose levels by testing before each meal, before bed, and sometimes after your meals. If all that testing seems overwhelming, you may want to talk to your doctor about a continuous glucose monitor. This kind of monitor is worn on the abdomen and can provide up to 288 glucose
readings in one day!
Many of the choices you make will depend on your doctor's advice, but don't forget: it's up to you to take charge. Don't let diabetes take over your life.
