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Pre-diabetic diagnosis
In addition to the 30 million Americans with diabetes, 86 million live with prediabetes, in which blood glucose is above normal but insufficient to make a diagnosis of diabetes.
Pre-diabetes is treatable. But only 1 in 10 people with the condition will know that it is reached. Untreated, 1 in 3 people will develop the disease in their own right in the coming years.
Faced with these statistics, Medicare is stepping up efforts to prevent diabetes among the millions of Medicare beneficiaries at increased risk of developing it.
Several years ago, Medicare partnered with YMCAs nationwide to launch an initiative for pre-diabetic patients. The pilot project showed that seniors can lose weight through lifestyle tips and regular meetings that focus on healthy eating and exercise.
About half of the participants lost an average of 5% of their weight, which, according to the health authorities, is enough to significantly reduce the risk of complete diabetes. By adopting a healthier lifestyle, people with prediabetes can delay the onset of the disease.
Extended coverage
Based on the encouraging results of the trial program, Medicare is now expanding its coverage of diabetes prevention. Using the pilot project as a model, it will help fund a counseling program to improve the nutrition of the beneficiaries, increase their physical activity and reduce stress.
If you hold a Part B or Part C insurance and you are pre-diabetic, you can sign up for a series of coaching sessions lasting one to two years, animated by health care providers and community organizations such as your local seniors' centers. There will be no disbursements.
You can find out more about this new service in the 2019 edition of Medicare and you manual, which was sent recently to all Medicare members.
Diabetes can be a terribly disabling disease. This can mean a lifetime of tests, injections and health problems. Every five minutes in this country, 14 other adults are diagnosed. And in the same five minutes, two more people will die of diabetes-related causes.
If we can prevent diabetes cases even before they start, we can help people live longer and more fully, and save money in our health care system.
Bob Moos is the Southwestern Public Affairs Officer of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
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