Only 45% percent of seniors receive proper care for managing diabetes. As a result, 55% of all diabetes-related costs are spent on hospitalization for diabetics aged 65 and older.
Alere, the diabetes management provider for Arizona's Medicare program, has developed a possible solution to help reduce the costs of treating diabetics. Alere recently tested a telephone-based system which provides support and information to diabetic seniors. Researchers tested the system on 526 patients with Medicare covered diabetes.
Nurses gave telephone support to the patients and then relayed information to the patients' primary care physicians before office visits. Patients using the telephone management system had annual medical costs $1,000 lower than the experiment's control group. They also had better glucose readings, and fewer complications such as foot ulcers or eye problems.
This experiment indicates that more information and support is the key for improved health in diabetes patients.
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.
Grapefruit?
A group of scientists in Canada think that a chemical, found naturally in grapefruit and called naringenin, could be the next solution for how to manage diabetes.
They conducted experiments on mice by feeding them a high-calorie diet to trigger diabetic symptoms. Half of the mice were also given high doses of naringenin. The mice that had the supplement experienced no adverse side effects from the high-calorie diet. However, the mice without the supplement grew obese, developed extremely high cholesterol, and became insulin-resistant.
The theory is that naringenin 'taught' the liver to burn fat instead of storing it, simultaneously balancing insulin and controlling glucose levels.
The mice were given much higher doses of naringenin than that the levels naturally occurring in grapefruit, so a high-concentration supplement would have to be developed before the grapefruit treatment can be used for controlling glucose levels in humans.
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.
Okay, so you have diabetes, now what?
You never used to have to worry about what you eat, but now it could mean the difference between feeling good and ending up in the hospital.
Diabetic health care includes a lot of things: glucose readings, exercise, doctor visits, medication, and of course, diet. One great diabetes resource is your local grocery store. Did you know that many grocery stores offer classes on nutrition for diabetics? You can learn how to manage diabetes through a nutritious, low glycemic diet and meet others who are also diabetics. Connecting with the diabetes community is an excellent way to obtain general diabetes information and to get some much-needed emotional support.
Along with controlling glucose levels with a healthy diet and exercise, you’ll need diabetic test supplies. The Diabetes Care Club is a great place to find diabetic supplies online, as well as a diabetes resource center. You can ask questions about the latest diabetes testing equipment. The Diabetes Care Club also has an online learning center with informative articles, recipes, and nutrition tips.
Learn as much as you can about managing your diabetes and find a community - online or even in at the grocery store. Don't let diabetes defeat you. Empower yourself.
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.
Some of you may remember a diabetes commercial B. B. King starred in a number of years ago. As a guitarist, he often experienced a lot of discomfort from having to prick his fingertips for his type 2 diabetes testing.
That's why, when he discovered the OneTouch Ultra2, he wanted to do a commercial for OneTouch and show other type 2 diabetes patients that they didn't have to deal with painful fingers any more. It allows you to test glucose levels using a tiny sample of blood, so you can test on your palm, forearm, or calf instead. And it gives results in just 5 seconds, so there's no waiting around. The OneTouch Ultra2 saves you time and spares your fingers.
Invented in the early 1990's by Eli Lilly and Company and Roche Diagnostics, talking glucose meters are extremely important for visually-impaired diabetes patients who can't read the screens on normal meters. There are two types of talking glucose meters.
The earlier type of talking meter comes with an extra piece of equipment that converts the words on the screen into speech. This type of electronic speech converter tends to produce words that sound mechanical and may be difficult to understand.
In addition to all the other improvements in modern meters, the second, newer type of talking glucose meter has prerecorded, built-in speech. It doesn't need extra hardware and it reads your glucose readings in a normal human voice. Diabetic medical equipment has certainly come a long way, hasn't it?
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.
Diabetic seniors can find themselves having to purchase a lot of equipment when testing for diabetes. Some struggle to pay for this additional expense. Fortunately, Medicare funding is designed especially to benefit seniors with diabetes. With Medicare, seniors with diabetes should no longer face a financial crisis.
For those who qualify, Medicare covers 80% of expenses. Diabetes Care Club files claims with Medicare and secondary insurance on behalf of its members. Members don't have to buy glucose meters or any other type of supplies from lots of different places, either. With its expert staff and free at-home delivery, Diabetes Care Club provides the best deals on diabetic testing supplies.
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.
