You know the rest. And that old saying is never truer than with diabetes—a disease that often can be prevented.
3. Medicare-Covered Diabetes Screenings
Medicare will cover up to two Fasting Blood Glucose tests each year if you have high blood pressure, a history of abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels, obesity, or a history of high blood sugar.
You’re also eligible for these tests if you answer can yes to two or more of these questions:
- Are you age 65 or older?
- Are you overweight?
- Do you have a family history of diabetes (among your parents and siblings)?
- Do you have a history of diabetes during pregnancy, or have you delivered a baby weighing more than nine pounds?
Under Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) you’ll pay nothing for the tests if your doctor accepts assignment. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you’re also eligible to receive diabetes screenings at no cost.
4. But What If Screening Detects That I’m Already Diabetic?
Then it’s all the more fortunate you got screened! Remember, there are people in your community who were diagnosed early in life with Type 1 diabetes, and they’ve successfully been managing their condition for years. If you’ve been diagnosed with Type 2, now it’s your turn to face the opponent head-on.
That’s the key. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you can’t just sit on the sidelines and “let nature take its course.” Many people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes make lifestyle changes that result in their feeling better and healthier than before they learned they were diabetic. If you’ve received the same diagnosis, you can achieve the same happy result.
Besides adopting a healthy diet and fitness program, you can benefit from:
• Reducing Stress
Reducing stress isn’t always easy, but it’s nearly always worth the effort. According to the American Diabetes Association, mental or physical stress can affect your blood sugar level, so make every effort to get your fair share of relaxation. Get enough sleep. Find the outlets you need for stress relief. Take time for whatever hobby interests you. You may even want to practice meditation, which can play a surprisingly important role in helping keep your blood sugar and medical costs low as you cope with diabetes.
• Being Informed
Diabetes Self-Management Training is a Medicare preventive service available to diabetics having a written order from a doctor or other health care provider. This service can include tips for healthy eating, staying active, monitoring your condition, taking your medication, and reducing the risk of complications.
• taking full advantage of Medicare-covered diabetic services
Besides screenings and Self-Management Training, Medicare covers diabetic supplies including:
• Blood sugar testing monitors
• Blood sugar test strips
• Lancet devices and lancets
• Blood sugar control solutions
Regular wellness visits with your doctor—even if they’re not specifically for the purpose of monitoring or treating diabetes—are also vital. Don’t look at diabetes in isolation. Just as successfully managing your diabetes is likely to have a positive effect on your overall health, it’s likely that working to improve other areas of your health will have some positive effect on your diabetes.