Discovering Medicare and Diabetes

Discovering Medicare and DiabetesIf you have diabetes than you already know the financial burden test strips, lancets, monitors and control solution can leave on you. Monthly you shell out a few hundred dollars for all your test supplies and they just do not seem to last long enough before it is time to shell out another hundred dollars or so. It can be quite a pain in the bank but that does not mean it has to be.

If you have diabetes, there is a chance that you can apply for Medicare. Medicare will not only help you afford your supplies every month, it can also help with other supplies that could be needed in the future, such as a therapeutic shoe to prevent foot disease. There are several parts to Medicare, which you must understand before applying for it. Here they are:

Medicare Part A aka Hospital Insurance is helpful when you are a patient within a hospital; it can also be helpful in times of home health care, hospice care or to cover the expenses of a nursing facility.

Medicare Part B aka Medical Insurance is helpful in covering expenses toward doctor’s bills or outpatient care bills. It can also be helpful to make sure that illnesses do not become worse than they are.

Medicare Part C aka Medicare Advantage Plans such as HMO or PPO, this is health coverage that is setup through private companies and assesses both Part A and Part B in order to cover the costs of prescription drugs.

Medicare Part D aka Prescription Drug Coverage is helpful in covering the high costs of prescription drugs. It can lower the cost of your prescription drugs and keep those high costs at bay in the future.
You can get many different supplies from Medicare. You may already qualify for these supplies if you are on Medicare or have a blood test showing you are a diabetic.

Here is a list of supplies covered by Medicare:

Most likely, you are thinking this all seems like a pretty good idea to save some money, but you may be asking yourself, “How do I get my supplies?” The answer is simple really; you can get your supplies a couple of different ways. One of those ways is through a Medicare participating provider such as a medical supply store or a local pharmacy. Another convenient way to obtain your supplies is by setting up a monthly delivery order, to your doorstep via the internet or snail mail through a diabetic supply company.

You should keep in mind when you order your supplies that you will need to ask for refills monthly, you will need a new prescription from your doctor to obtain additional lancets, and test strips yearly.

Becoming a diabetic and living with diabetes is hard as it is but knowing that you have full coverage when it comes to doctor visits, high cost drug prescriptions, hospital visits and even long-term nursing facility care, can make things a little better. Diabetes is a lot less of a struggle when you can afford the supplies you need to take care of yourself, look into Medicare today.

Can Medicare Cover Insulin Pumps for Patients with Type 2

medicare and insulin pumpsDiabetes can be hard to live with, it does not matter which type you have. It could be type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes; they are all very difficult to live with. Type 2 diabetes however, is the most common diabetes out there among millions of Americans who have been diagnosed with it. Type 2 diabetes appears to be more common in Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and African Americans.

A person who has type 2 diabetes is dealing with either a body that is unable to produce insulin or cells that ignore insulin. For the body to work properly, insulin is necessary. Glucose turns into energy, therefore any food that you eat will break down all the sugars and starches into glucose, which will in turn, fuel the cells in the body. Glucose can start to build up in the blood, rather than in the cells, which ultimately starts a long path of diabetes complications.

For those who have type 2 diabetes, the diagnosis used to be simple. Get plenty of exercise and watch what you eat. If you eat a lot of sugars and starches than the problem gets a lot worse. This diagnosis is fairly easy for many people and there are people who were pre-diabetic and seem to be handling life well at the moment by not showing any signs of becoming a full-blown diabetic. However, what happens when diet and exercise are not enough? What happens when a person has done all they can to help their blood sugar level out but it still skyrockets or drops suddenly, without much warning? For these individuals, it used to be a hard diagnosis to make, but now there is an easy answer and the answer is yes. Yes, a person with type 2 diabetes can be covered by Medicare when they need an insulin pump. However, just as if with any other diabetic supplies you need, you must have a prescription from your doctor.

Medicare used to only cover insulin pumps for patients who had type 1 diabetes, but since there is a growing issues with type 2 diabetes, there is a growing need for insulin pumps for patients who do not have type 1 diabetes are still battling insulin issues.

To receive a pump you must have to following:

  • Type 1 insulin-dependent Diabetes
  • Type 2 insulin-dependent Diabetes
  • Gestational Diabetes with a blood sugar that in uncontrollable.
  • Written prescription from your doctor
  • Medical records showing that you what you claim
  • Complete a diabetes education program
  • Completed a program of at least 3 daily insulin injections with frequent adjustments of insulin dosage for the past six months
  • Self-testing documentation for the past two months that shows four times a day testing

Once you are approved, for an insulin pump, you will save the most money if you go through a Medicare approved provider. When it comes to diabetic suppliers, they must meet a very long list of strict standards. It is possible to order your insulin pump from any store that sells that, however, if they supplier is not enrolled in Medicare, Medicare will not pay for the pump leaving you with the bill.

Cells That Reduce Autoimmune Attacks

Cells That Reduce Autoimmune AttacksCells That Reduce Autoimmune Attacks: Diabetes is a growing epidemic. In fact, more than 24 million Americans have diabetes and a little more than 57 million individuals are pre-diabetic, which means they are right on the border of becoming a full blown diabetic. Diabetes affects so many people’s lives that it has become the number seven killer in the United States. Annually, more children develop diabetes through hereditary genes and an obesity rate that just keeps skyrocketing. Elderly patients seem to have diabetes worse than anyone else and many end up losing their life to the disease of diabetes.

Each year comes a new generation of diabetics who are hopeful that one day, advancements in medical research will find a cure. With that being said scientists might have accomplished just that.

Through recent investigative medical studies, issued by researchers at the Dana Falber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School Department of Pathology, a new advancement has appeared that just might help break the ever-growing cycle of autoimmune attacks that occur within the body destining individuals with life-long illnesses such as lupus, cancer and even type 1 diabetes. A connection has been made between the function of cells and the reduction of autoimmune attacks.

With this distinction becoming clear, scientists hope to develop new advances for treating autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes. Here is how it all works:

In the body, there is an amount of white blood cells known as CD8+ Treg cells. These cells exist to help fight against bacteria in the body, they not only kill an infected virus they can also kill tumor cells. CD8+ Treg cells have the ability to counteract autoimmune attacks on the body, which allow cells to be increased through a chemical process, all the while, reducing antibodies that attack tissue within an individual’s body. Ultimately, CD8+ cells control autoantibody formation, which is the creation of antibodies that end up attacking the body’s own tissues.

This is all possible due to the bodies “B” cells. B cells are a subpopulation of white cells that exist in the body to make antibodies that connect to pathogens, which helps to accomplish their destruction in the body. When B cells are activated in response to follicular T helper cells, autoantibody formation happens, which results in an unwanted autoimmune attack.

Through this discovery, scientists are now able to focus on B cells, so they can stop antibodies from attacking the body’s cells. Through CD8+ Treg cells, it has become possible to control follicular helper cells, which are more efficient in the body, instead of directly controlling B cells. If scientists can control one follicular cell, they could end controlling many B cells, which in turn helps to stop autoimmune attacks on the body.

This new research will open new doors to medical advancements in autoimmunity diseases. With a large amount of the United States alone being diagnosed with diabetes, there have been large amounts of practical “cures” that have come out through medical advancements in hopes to break the cycle of diabetes. Even herbal remedies have given some relief to those suffering from the disease. However, nothing has come close to being an actual cure for diabetes itself. Scientists believe they may have found the breakthrough needed to cure diabetes and help those suffering from cancer as well.

Living Healthy With My Diabetes™

supervaluThe SUPERVALU family of grocery stores (including Acme®, Albertsons®, Cub Foods®, Farm Fresh®, Jewel-Osco®, Shaw’s/Star Market™, Shop ‘n Save®, and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy®) has just launched “living healthy with my diabetes™,” a program that will feature a variety of year-round resources, as well as special limited-time services starting Nov. 7 through Nov. 20 during American Diabetes Month.

Following are some of the services available between Nov. 7 and Nov. 20:

  • Free blood glucose test screenings in selected locations (Saturday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
  • Health screenings for A1C, cholesterol and liver function for just $19.99
  • And in some stores, savings booklets for discounts on diabetes-related products, while supplies last.

Program elements that are available year-round include:

  • “Eating Healthy with Diabetes” store tours guided by specially-trained pharmacists and registered dietitians
  • Online diabetes-friendly menu ideas and recipes
  • In-store pharmacy services including education, self-management services, blood glucose screenings, blood pressure monitoring and face-to-face medication reviews
  • Diabetes products such as equaline® test strips, glucose tablets, blood pressure monitors, lancets, and latex and vinyl gloves

Better Choices, Better Health Pilot Program

Better Choices, Better Health, the new online version of Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP). This new program is free for people in seven pilot states, thanks to a grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.

National Council on Aging - Better Choices, Better Health ProgramBetter Choices, Better Health, the new online version of Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP). This new program is free for people in seven pilot states, thanks to a grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Better Choices, Better Health is a six-week, interactive workshop designed for people with a range of chronic health conditions, including diabetes. Participants learn new ways to manage their symptoms, reduce anxiety, and find community resources.

A little more info about Better Choices, Better Health:

Workshops can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection—including dial-up—making them accessible for those without access to transportation or broadband.

Led by trained facilitators, many of whom live with chronic conditions themselves, participants discuss:

  • Dealing with anxiety and stress
  • Managing pain and other symptoms
  • Planning for the future
  • Locating and using community resources
  • Building communication skills
  • Asking for help

The seven pilot states are: California, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Oregon. We hope to expand this list soon.

The National Council on Aging has licensed the program from Stanford University, but workshops are open to individuals of all ages.

Even more info: http://www.ncoa.org/improving-health/chronic-disease/better-choices-better-health.html

Ben Vereen Takes Diabetes Personal

Ben VereenHe sings, he dances and he can act. His name is Ben Vereen and he’s a diabetic. This star of stage and screen has taken his story to the people, and the people are listening.

Vereen struggled in his own past. He found out he was adopted in 1960 when applying for a passport to travel. His daughter died. He struggled with alcoholism. A car struck him. Had to learn to speak again after the accident, and more recently was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Today Vereen is in his 60’s, has a couple of movies and television movies that will debut soon and his one man show featuring music of Sammy Davis Jr. is a success. But according to DallasNews.com Vereen has a new message when it comes to diabetes, “Turn it around.”

Vereen also had a tough message for those who chose to consider themselves a victim of diabetes, “We need to stop seeing diabetes as a challenge or something that we suffer from, but rather it’s an opportunity to live a better life by taking better care of ourselves.”

To demonstrate his level of commitment to fighting diabetes Vereen has partnered with Sanofi-aventis to create an organization S.T.A.N.D. for Diabetes (Start Taking Action Now for Diabetes). The movement is self-described this way, “Whether you are an influencer in the world of entertainment, medicine, public health, or marketing, or someone living with or affected by diabetes in some way, we want you to look for opportunities in your daily activities to spread the message and become part of this movement. We challenge you to think differently about diabetes and imagine new ways to raise awareness about the disease and the importance of better blood sugar control NOW.”

Vereen is clear that it is his influence he plans on using to spread the news about diabetes, its causes, its struggles and ways to fight back. This is the call he makes to all of us – use whatever influence we have to reverse the trend of diabetes in our world.

According to a S.T.A.N.D. press release Vereen said, “When I was first diagnosed I did the things my doctor recommended — watching my diet, exercising more and taking my diabetes medication — but I wasn’t comfortable checking my blood sugar in public, but I’ve overcome my discomfort with the help of friends and family because I’ve learned that it’s so essential to control my blood sugar. Now checking my blood sugar is as comfortable as using my cell phone and my blood sugar is under control!”

Pointing to his optimistic nature Vereen refers to his condition as “lifeabetes.”

One of the key ways S.T.A.N.D. encourages others to influence is through social media like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. These mediums are a preferred way for many to communicate making them an incredibly potent tool in spreading the news both personally and in wall posts or tweets.

The key reason this is suggested is because it’s easy for everyone to do. There is no need to speak publicly (unless you’re gifted to do so and want to). There is no need to lobby congress (unless you are determined to do so). This is effectively a 21st century attempt at a grassroots movement that spreads the news and invites people to action. People like Ben Vereen – people like you.

Recall of the Medtronic Pumps

In August of 2007, the Medtronic Neuromedulation Company sent a letter to each of its customers. The top of the letter displayed this phrase: “Urgent Medical Device Correction, August 2007.” The letter disclosed some unsettling information about the SynchroMed EL infusion pumps.

In August of 2007, the Medtronic Neuromedulation Company sent a letter to each of its customers. The top of the letter displayed this phrase: “Urgent Medical Device Correction, August 2007.” The letter disclosed some unsettling information about the SynchroMed EL infusion pumps.

The letter sent a clear warning to all those who had purchased a SynchroMed EL infusion pump prior to September of 1999. Mounting evidence had produced proof that pumps made before that date could stall at an unexpectedly high rate. The wear and tear on pumps made before September of 1999 could result in a sudden stoppage of delivery. Stalled pumps ceased delivery of insulin.

The letter emphasized the importance of its message. It indicated that the recall of the SynchroMed EL pump was a Class 1 recall. Any recall constitutes an action taken to address a problem with a product. The FDA can call for the recall of a medical device. A Class I recall underlines the harm that could result from continued and widespread use of a medical device with a particular problem.

The actual recall process had been initiated by the Medtronic Neuromedulation Company. As indicated, the Company had sent letters to each of the customers who had purchased a SynchroMed EL infusion pump. The Company had also completed another important step in the recall process.

When a company recalls a medical device, it needs to do more than just contact those who have previously purchased that device. It also needs to forewarn any customers who might now be thinking about buying that device. When a Company initiates the recall of a medical device, it must also put out a press release. In that release it must make clear what the name of the device that has been shown to be a potential threat to users of that device.

The Medtronic Neuromedulation Company had released such a statement to the press. It had also distributed information that could help customers to better identify the problem pump. Finally, the Company had acted to make the necessary changes in the pumps, changes that would eliminate any potential harm to a diabetes patient who was using that same pump.

The FDA led oversight of the actions taken by the Medtronic Neuromedulation Company. The FDA worked with Company officials to get out clear and complete information on the product that was being recalled. In addition, the FDA had asked the Company to issue a public statement, a statement outlining its recall strategy.

Once the Company had initiated its proposed recall strategy, then the FDA had conducted an audit of the Company. The FDA used that audit as a way to judge the effectiveness of the ongoing recall. The FDA also took steps to monitor the efforts being made to correct the device deficiencies, the deficiencies that had led to the recall.

Although the FDA has designed the recall process to limit the number of consumer concerns, the Agency realizes that some customers might still have questions. For that reason, it has announced several channels by which concerned customers, possibly diabetes patients, can direct their questions to those most apt to have the correct answer.

Diabetes patients who use or have used the SynchroMed EL infusion pump can obtain more information by calling 1-800-707-0923. They can also go online to this website: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.html. A diabetes patient who can not make a phone call or does not have access to a computer has yet another option. He or she can send a Fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.

Should a diabetes patient care to mail a letter to the executives at the company conducting the recall, then that patient should address that letter to:

Medtronic Neuromedulation Company
800 53rd Ave. N.E.
P.O. Box 1250
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-1250

Diabetes and Medicare Supplies – Part 2

If information is power than knowing as much as you can about the Medicare benefits you’re entitled to can be very helpful in your care. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides more details.

Diabetes and Medicare Supplies – Part 2If information is power than knowing as much as you can about the Medicare benefits you’re entitled to can be very helpful in your care. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides more details.

Before a beneficiary gets a supply, it is important for them to ask the supplier or pharmacy the following questions:

  • Are you enrolled in Medicare?
  • Do you accept assignment?

If the answer to either of these two (2) questions is “no,” they should call another supplier or pharmacy in their area who answers “yes” to be sure their purchase is covered by Medicare, and to save them money.

If a beneficiary cannot find a supplier or pharmacy in their area that is enrolled in Medicare and accepts assignment, they may want to order their supplies through the mail, which may also save them money.

Therapeutic Shoes and Inserts
If a beneficiary has Medicare Part B, has diabetes, and meets certain conditions (see below), Medicare will cover therapeutic shoes if they need them. The types of shoes that are covered each year include one of the following:

  • One pair of depth-inlay shoes and three pairs of inserts; or
  • One pair of custom-molded shoes (including inserts) if the beneficiary cannot wear depth-inlay shoes because of a foot deformity and two additional pairs of inserts.

Note: In certain cases, Medicare may also cover shoe modifications instead of inserts.
In order for Medicare to pay for the beneficiary’s therapeutic shoes, the doctor treating their diabetes must certify that they meet all of the following three conditions:

  • They have diabetes;
  • They have at least 1 of the following conditions in one or both feet:
  • Partial or complete foot amputation;
  • Past foot ulcers;
  • Calluses that could lead to foot ulcers;
  • Nerve damage because of diabetes with signs of problems with calluses;
  • Poor circulation; or
  • Deformed foot;
  • They are being treated under a comprehensive diabetes care plan and need therapeutic shoes and/or inserts because of diabetes.

Medicare also requires the following:

  • A podiatrist or other qualified doctor must prescribe the shoes, and
  • A doctor or other qualified individual like a pedorthist, orthotist, or prosthetist must fit and provide the shoes to the beneficiary.

Medicare helps pay for one pair of therapeutic shoes and inserts per calendar year, and the fitting of the shoes or inserts is covered in the Medicare payment for the shoes.

Insulin Pumps and the Insulin Used in the Pumps
Insulin pumps worn outside the body (external), including the insulin used with the pump, may be covered for some people with Medicare Part B who have diabetes and who meet certain conditions. If a beneficiary needs to use an insulin pump, their doctor will need to prescribe it. In the Original Medicare Plan, the beneficiary pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. Medicare will pay 80% of the cost of the insulin pump. Medicare will also pay for the insulin that is used with the insulin pump.

Medicare Part B covers the cost of insulin pumps and the insulin used in the pumps. However, if the beneficiary injects their insulin with a needle (syringe), Medicare Part B does not cover the cost of the insulin, but the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D) covers the insulin and the supplies necessary to inject it. This includes syringes, needles, alcohol swabs and gauze. The Medicare Part D plan will cover the insulin and any other medications to treat diabetes at home as long as the beneficiary is on the Medicare Part D plan’s formulary. (Source: cms.gov)

Diabetes Connection to the Bone Cells

It’s not often that you hear of medical science discussing diabetes and bones in the same sentence. Usually the heart and kidneys are the discussed in connection with diabetes, but new research suggests that the human bones may have a bearing on how the human body manages insulin.

bone cells and diabetesIt’s not often that you hear of medical science discussing diabetes and bones in the same sentence. Usually the heart and kidneys are the discussed in connection with diabetes, but new research suggests that the human bones may have a bearing on how the human body manages insulin.

MedPageToday indicates, “In the July 23 issue of Cell, [and] from two separate research teams [there is an indication] that insulin receptors in osteoblasts mediate release of the hormone osteocalcin, which speeds up glucose metabolism elsewhere in the body.”

MedicineNet.com defines osteoblasts as, “A cell that makes bone.” Meanwhile, “The hormone osteocalcin is secreted solely by osteoblasts (bone making cells) and thought to play a role in the body’s metabolic regulation and is pro-osteoblastic, or bone-building,” according to Wikipedia.

According to Gerard Karsenty, MD, PhD, of Columbia University in New York City, “The two studies suggest that drugs working through the osteocalcin pathway, if not the hormone itself, could be effective treatments for type 2 diabetes.

“Insulin signaling in osteoblasts [is] a critical link between bone remodeling and energy metabolism,” cited MedPageToday.com

The exciting part of this research is the fact that this provides a new link of potential in how the body works to correct health issues. As mentioned in the opening paragraph it is not often that anyone has spoken about diabetes and bone health in the same sentence.

The end result could be that individuals with diabetes may want to gain as much information about how the human bones can actually help regular blood sugar (glucose) as possible.

MedPageToday indicated these, “experiments also revealed what they called a “previously unappreciated” function of insulin in bone — that it boosts activity of an osteoblast regulatory molecule called Runx2, the end effect being that insulin helps promote osteoblast differentiation.”

The research on this finding was “funded by the Fond de la Recherche en Sante du Quebec, the National Institutes of Health, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.”

The long and short of the research suggests that it is possible the bone making cells interact in a more significant way with diabetes by infusing the hormone osteocalcin into the body. This hormone is helpful in regulating diabetes. The hormone appears to act in concert with the bone-making cells to create an atmosphere that is equipped to help with the in-body care needed to thrive with diabetes.

According to MedPageToday both research groups suggested, “In total, the findings demonstrate the delicate and interactive nature of the processes underlying bone formation and resorption.”

The research may further indicate what possible ways this knowledge can be used to accelerate the body’s ability to accept a more efficient flow of information and successful implementation and absorption of insulin within the body, and used by bone making cells.

The body is a very complex organism that is often discovered to be more complex than we ever realized. DNA is an example of the complexity, but even within that undeniably unique set of body blue prints we continue to learn more and more about not only the various parts of our internal structure, but also how those parts interact in ways we never imagined.

These latest studies remain a prime example of how that plays out in scientific data and potential medical fixes for those occasions when two parts of the body that normally work well together are in the midst of a struggle.

Diabetes and the Potential Impact of AMPK

If you’ve ever watched a survival type show on television then you know there are extremes in food availability that people endure and they seem to come out of these issues safely. There is a chromosome protein that acts as a rescue device and the discovery of how it functions may have a huge impact on how diabetes is treated.

According to Medical News Today, “Researchers at McGill University and University of Pennsylvania have uncovered new insights into how a protein known as the AMP-activated protein kinase, or AMPK, a master regulator of metabolism, controls how our cells generate energy.”

Imagine if you will, a drill sergeant in the Army. He commissions soldiers to go from one place to the next to fulfill the needs of the overall operation. He’s in charge of many soldiers and each is told what to do and when to do it. This is a picture of what AMPK is like in the human body.

If the AMPK determines the body’s resources are not required for energy then it will not willingly allocated energy resources without just cause.

McGill Professor Russell Jones is quoted in Medical News Today as saying, “”The discovery that AMPK goes directly to the DNA to affect gene transcription is a breakthrough in our understanding how signals from outside the cell are transmitted to change gene expression. It is like an electrical circuit. We have figured out how AMPK mediates the connection.”

If you’re wondering why this is big news the answer lies in what medical science can potentially do with this information. They may be able to effectively send new orders to the AMPK allowing the use of energy cells to be used in metabolism – even during times when the AMPK would not normally do so.

As a society we’ve encountered an alteration in our overall lifestyle. Where once we were more active in physical labor today we are much more sedentary so our bodies are not used to the idea of needing to burn added fat or energy cells.

Medical News Today helps explain the process. “AMPK’s main role is to sense cell stress. In this study, cells were stressed with ultraviolet radiation and low levels of glucose, a common source of cell energy. In the sequence of events after stress, AMPK picks up the cell-stress signal and travels to the nucleus to bind to the tumor suppressor gene p53. This in turn, causes a phosphate to be added to a histone near the p21 gene, which activates transcription. The function of the p21 protein is to stop or slow down the cell cycle.”

If medical science can simulate cell stress then it may be possible to induce a more effective use of glucose and a fat burning metabolism as it works to encourage AMPK to regulate a change that gains benefit from an effective use of blood glucose.

Medical News Today reports, “The work conducted by the researchers holds promise for new therapies for a number of diseases including diabetes and cancer. For example, AMPK is a target of metformin, the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of Type II diabetes. By understanding how AMPK can directly change gene expression, this may lead to the identification of new disease-associated targets and potential therapies.”

In the end this is one more potential therapy that may result in improved care for those who live with diabetes.