Who Should Be Screened for Diabetes?
If you are showing symptoms of diabetes, it makes sense to see you doctor. But what if you are asymptomatic and do not have any risk factors? The American Diabetes Association recommends testing every three years beginning at the age of 45, even if you do not currently have symptoms. If you are overweight or have any additional risk factors, you should begin even earlier.1
Who is most at risk?
Being overweight is a well-known contributing factor to type 2 diabetes, but it is not the only risk factor. Certain racial/ethnic groups may have increased likelihood of developing diabetes, even if they have a lower body mass index (BMI). In addition to BMI, the following could put you at higher risk for developing the disease:
- Immediate family member with type 2 diabetes
- Lack of physical activity
- Black, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian
- You’ve had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol level ≤35 mg/dL
- Triglyceride level ≥250 mg/dL
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose (“pre-diabetes”) on previous blood-glucose testing
- History of heart disease1,2
- If you are pregnant, you may also be at increased risk of developing gestational diabetes if you are older than 25, have a family or past history of gestational diabetes, or are overweight. Additionally, women who are black, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian also show an increased likelihood of developing the disease.2
Are you at risk? Get screened.
Your doctor may recommend including a diabetes screening during your annual check up based on your health or family history. In fact, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening as part of cardiovascular risk assessment in adults aged 40 to 70 years who are overweight/obese.3 Yet many patients do not receive early screenings that could prevent complications later. If you have one or more of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes, talk to your doctor about getting screened.
You have control
Just because you are at higher risk of developing diabetes doesn’t mean it is inevitable. You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes – even if you have already been diagnosed with prediabetes. Eating well, moving more, and living healthfully can lessen the likelihood you will develop the disease. Getting screened regularly and before you have developed any symptoms will give you time to plan a course of action before any complications occur.4
Just how important is early identification? Even if you have developed prediabetes or diabetes, earlier intervention leads to better patient outcomes and can lessen your likelihood of complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease increase. And making lifestyle changes such as opting to losing 5-7% of your body weight if overweight and increasing your activity can reduce the number of days you miss from work and the number of medications you need to take.5
We’re here to help
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with diabetes and have questions about managing your disease, talk to your Health Mart pharmacist. Whatever your healthcare needs, we are here for you!
Nothing herein constitutes medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or is a substitute for professional advice. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other medical professional if you have questions or concerns about a medical condition.
Sources
- Endocrine Web: Who Should Be Tested for Diabetes, and How is Diabetes Diagnosed? https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/diabetes/who-should-be-tested-diabetes-how-diabetes-diagnosed Last accessed: October 17, 2019
- Mayo Clinic: Diabetes Overview. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444 Last accessed: October 17, 2019
- NCBI: Low Screening Rates for Diabetes Mellitus Among Family Members of Affected Relatives. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6371358/#targetText=The%20U.S.%20Preventive%20Services%20Task,who%20are%20overweight%20or%20obese. Last accessed: October 17, 2019
- American Diabetes Association: What causes diabetes? Find out and take control. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-risk Last accessed: October 17, 2019
- NIH: Why Screen for and Treat Prediabetes https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/communication-programs/ndep/health-professionals/game-plan-preventing-type-2-diabetes/prediabetes-screening-how-why/why-screen-for-prediabetes Last accessed: October 17, 2019
- Published in Healthy Living Blog Posts
Is Your Med D Plan Costing You?
Is Your Med D Plan Costing You?
Whether you are already enrolled in Medicare or looking ahead, it is important to understand what Medicare covers and when to enroll. From missing enrollment windows to selecting a prescription plan not suited to your needs, Medicare mistakes can be costly.
Know your window
There is a seven-month window for Medicare enrollment that begins three months before your birth month and ends three months after your birth month. If you do not enroll when you were first eligible, you can enroll during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period (October 15 – December 7), but a late penalty may apply.1,2
Unlike Medicare Parts A (hospital insurance) and B (medical insurance), enrolling in a Part D (prescription insurance) plan is optional. But there’s a catch. With a few exceptions (e.g., employer coverage), if you do not enroll when you first become eligible, a lifetime penalty will be added to your premium when you do enroll.2,3
Even seniors with insurance coverage from an employer before or after retirement need to be mindful of enrollment requirements. For example, did you know that your employer may be able to designate Medicare as your primary insurance when you turn 65?3 Depending on the size of your employer, Medicare may require you to sign up during the Initial Enrollment Period based on your birthday, not retirement, and not doing so could result in late penalties.2,3
If you are nearing 65, knowing when you need to enroll could save you big – just when you need it most.
Selecting your prescription coverage
With fixed incomes and the increasing medical needs that come as we age, prescription costs can be a major stressor for many seniors. But with as many as 30 plans to consider, selecting the right Medicare Part D plan can be overwhelming.3
Enrolling in the plan with the lowest premium may seem like the obvious answer, but not considering all factors can cost you in the end. Make sure the plan you choose meets your priorities:
- Are you currently taking medications?
- Look for plans that include your medications in their formulary.
- Do you want extra protection from high prescription drug costs?
- Look for plans that will offer you coverage in the coverage gap.
- Do you want drug expenses to be balanced throughout the year?
- Look for plans with a low or no deductible or with additional gap coverage.
- Do you take a lot of generic prescriptions?
- Look for a plan that offers low or no copayments on generics.
- Do you not have many drug costs now but want peace of mind and to avoid future penalties?
- Look for a plan with a low monthly premium.
- Do you prefer the extra benefits and lower costs available by getting your health care and prescription drug coverage from one plan (and are willing to accept the plan’s restrictions on what doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers you can use)?
- Look for a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) that includes prescription coverage. Part C is available through private insurance companies that contract with Medicare.5
Navigating your choices
Medicare.gov, the official U.S. government site for Medicare, can help you select the coverage that best suits your needs. For your Part D plan, the site’s Medicare Plan Finder can help choose and enroll in a plan based on your needs and current medications (hint: have your prescription list handy!)
Plan options change year-to-year, as do your needs. Be sure to reevaluate your coverage annually so that you can change plans during Open Enrollment if there is a better option. It could save you hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars.
We’re here to help
We know that selecting a Medicare Part D plan can be intimidating. If you are unsure if your current plan is the best one for you or need advice about selecting a new plan for 2020, talk to your Health Mart pharmacist.
Health Mart. Caring for you and about you.
Nothing herein constitutes medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or is a substitute for professional advice. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other medical professional if you have questions or concerns about a medical condition.
Sources:
- AARP: How to Avoid These Common Medicare Mistakes https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2019/common-medicare-mistakes.html Last accessed: July 18, 2019
- Very Well Health: The Top 6 Mistakes Seniors Make When It Comes to Medicare Enrollment https://www.verywellhealth.com/top-mistakes-seniors-make-with-medicare-enrollment-2318676 Last accessed: July 18, 2019
- CNBC: Here’s how to avoid costly Medicare mistakes when retiring after age 65 https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/19/avoiding-costly-medicare-mistakes-when-retiring-past-age-65.html July 19, 2019
- Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation: An Overview of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit https://www.kff.org/medicare/fact-sheet/an-overview-of-the-medicare-part-d-prescription-drug-benefit/ Last accessed: July 18, 2019
- Medicare.gov: 6 things to look for when choosing Medicare drug coverage https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/how-to-get-drug-coverage/6-things-to-look-for-when-choosing-medicare-drug-coverage Last accessed: July 18, 2019
- Published in Healthy Living Blog Posts
Here Comes the Sun, Grab the Tomatoes….?
Ah, finally – sun! It seemed like winter would never end, but here we are with summer upon us. It’s time to shed those layers and get outside.
But first, slather on the sunscreen. And grab a hat. Oh, and where did you leave your sunglasses?
So much for shedding the layers.
Don’t leave home without the sunscreen
Ensuring your skin is protected from the harmful rays of the sun is important. Making sure you use a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen that is at a minimum an SPF 30 is vital to keeping the sun’s damaging rays at bay and preventing everything from premature aging to malignant melanoma.1,2,3
But there are things you can do even on the cloudiest days to increase your skin’s protections against sun damage.
You really are what you eat
In addition to external precautions like sunscreen, there are things that you can do to keep your skin healthy from the inside out and increase its resistance to the sun’s harmful effects.
Topping the list: antioxidants.4 Antioxidants prevent DNA damage, decreasing mutations and reducing skin cancer risk, and their anti-inflammatory properties guard against sunburn. So, can a salad really help you avoid looking like a lobster after a day at the beach? Short answer – yes.
Carotenoids, which give pigment to orange and red vegetables and fruits, can help offer natural sun protection. Carotenoids, which include lycopene, lutein and beta carotene, accumulate in your skin to absorb sunlight and can help against skin damage and prevent premature aging. One study even showed that risk of sunburn was significantly lowered when test subjects ate a small amount of tomato paste daily for 10 weeks.5
So when you’re out picking up the sunscreen, pick up some tomatoes (lycopene), too, along with other antioxidant-loaded foods such as sweet potato (beta carotene), spinach (beta carotene), berries (polyphenols), grapes (polyphenols), pomegranates (polyphenols), oranges (Vitamin C), fatty fish (omega-3s), and walnuts (omega-3s). Your skin will thank you!4
We’re here to help
If you need advice selecting a sunscreen product or are looking for relief from a sunburn, talk to your local Health Mart pharmacist – they are always happy to help!
Health Mart. Caring for you and about you.
Nothing herein constitutes medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or is a substitute for professional advice. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other medical professional if you have questions or concerns about a medical condition.
Sources:
- NIH: “Sun and Skin – The Dark Side of Sun Exposure” https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/07/sun-skin Last accessed May 20, 2019
- CDC: “Skin Cancer” https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm Last accessed May 20, 2019
- AAD: “How to select a sunscreen” https://www.aad.org/public/spot-skin-cancer/learn-about-skin-cancer/prevent/how-to-select-a-sunscreen Last accessed: May 20, 2019
- CNN: “Protecting your skin from the inside out” https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/17/health/healthy-skin-diet-sunscreen-drayer-food/index.html Last accessed May, 20, 2019
- NCBI: “Dietary tomato paste protects against ultraviolet light-induced erythema in humans” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11340098 Last accessed May 20, 2019
- Published in Healthy Living Blog Posts
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