diabetes management

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Our Pets Help with Diabetes Management and Stress Relief

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These days, we are loving the opportunity to bring our dogs into the Healthy Living office during the workday. It has been amazing being able to have our best buddies along to work for both productivity and peace of mind.

Beyond Type 1 just posted a really cool article about how pets can help with T1D management - beyond the role of diabetic alert dogs. These are some of the key benefits the article cited:

  • Our pets can help reduce our stress. - "When stress hormone levels spike, blood glucose levels have been known to rise significantly. The decreased stress and anxiety that interaction with animals can provide can positively affect blood glucose levels as a result!"

  • Our pets can help prevent loneliness. - " One major cause of stress, anxiety and depression is the feeling of loneliness. Having a beloved animal that provides consistent, unconditional love is a great way to battle these feelings and avoid those blood sugar-spiking hormones that come along with it."

  • Our pets encourage us to exercise. - "People who own pets (and dogs in particular) on average get more day-to-day exercise than people who do not have an animal to walk and care for. Exercise is a natural way to speed up insulin absorption and lower BG levels."

  • Our pets help motivate self-care. - "The added responsibility that comes with pet ownership can make you more aware of the importance of your own health. Your furry friend depends on you! Out of that love, you may love yourself more."

The quotes above are directly from the Beyond Type 1 article "Can Pets Help in T1D Management?" Settle in and take some time with a fluffy friend to help prevent and relieve stress and burnout from diabetes (or any other cause!).

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New Slimmer, Low-Cost CGM Coming from Dexcom & Verily

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The sensor on the left is the Dexcom G6 CGM, and the sensor on the right is their new CGM, expected in about two years. This new device was previously described as "the thinnest CGM ever."

The sensor on the left is the Dexcom G6 CGM, and the sensor on the right is their new CGM, expected in about two years. This new device was previously described as "the thinnest CGM ever."

Dexcom plans to bring a new, lower cost, slimmer, disposable continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to market in 2020/2021 in partnership with Verily. Notable features of the new CGM will include:

  • Significantly lower cost - for greater accessibility

  • Fully disposable with no separate transmitter - after sensor wear is complete, the entire piece is thrown out and replaced

  • No fingersticks - like the Dexcom G6

  • Extended wear - approximately 14 days

  • Sends data straight to Smartphone - via Bluetooth

This information came from the diaTribe blog. According to diaTribe, "This sensor will be made widely available to people with diabetes who are on intensive insulin therapy (pumps or multiple daily injections) and those with type 2 diabetes on pills or no medication."

This is an exciting technology to look forward to for better diabetes management for more people. We'll keep you in the loop as more news emerges from Dexcom. To learn more about CGM options available today, call us at 866.779.8512, Option 2.

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Medicare Now Covers CGM: Available through Healthy Living

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Medicare now offers reimbursement for the Dexcom G5 Mobile System for members who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and intensively manage their blood sugar levels with insulin.

Medicare now offers reimbursement for the Dexcom G5 Mobile System for members who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and intensively manage their blood sugar levels with insulin.

Medicare members now have access to a life-changing therapy for managing diabetes -- CGM. At Healthy Living, we are so excited that we can now offer Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to people living with diabetes on Medicare. CGM provides many benefits to users, including fewer daily fingerpricks and better insights into blood sugar trends. Dexcom CGM systems also work in tandem with insulin pumps and are an excellent addition to any diabetes treatment plan for closer monitoring, improved metrics, and more precise dosing.

Healthy Living can provide CGM systems, associated diabetes supplies, insulin pumps, and pump supplies to Medicare members. It is worthwhile to find out more about these advanced technologies. By calling us and talking with our Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team, you can learn more about how CGM and insulin pumps work and how they can benefit your diabetes management. We will also run a no-cost insurance verification check for you to learn more about your coverage.

Find out more about continuous glucose monitoring systems here. Get started by connecting with Healthy Living via phone at 866.779.8512 (Option 2) or text at 248.577.9903. Also chat with us on our website, myhlms.com.

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Michigan Medicaid & CGM Coverage -- Let Your Voice Be Heard

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Comment on the new Michigan Medicaid proposal via email, phone, fax, or letter.

Comment on the new Michigan Medicaid proposal via email, phone, fax, or letter.

Share your experience and thoughts, and let your voice be heard! Michigan Medicaid has proposed a new policy that will allow coverage of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) for eligible members. Now is the time to review the proposed changes in Medicaid policies and procedures. Your comments are due soon — September 26, 2018.

How to Submit Your Comments

Email Address: trumbelll@michigan.gov 

Mailing Address:

Lisa Trumbell, DMEPOS Policy Specialist 

Bureau of Medicaid Policy and Health System Innovation 

Medical Services Administration 

P.O. Box 30479 

Lansing, Michigan 48909-7979 

Telephone Number: 517-284-1226

Fax Number: 517-241-8969 

The proposed effective date is December 1, 2018. Our Healthy Living team has already submitted a letter to Michigan Medicaid to express our support of continuous glucose monitoring therapy as a highly effective way to help people with diabetes manage their disease.

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OmniPod and Abbott FreeStyle Libre Approved for Coverage by Medicare

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The Abbott Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system.

The Abbott Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system.

Great news was announced earlier this month to start the New Year off strong for the diabetes community! Medicare is allowing coverage of the Omnipod tubeless insulin pump and the new FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system. And as Diabetes Mine notes, "since CMS typically sets the stage for what private insurers will cover, this is a big win for PWDs (people with diabetes) of all ages!"

We love to help!

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Insulin Pumps & Medicare: Getting Rolling with Healthy Living

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Family enjoying a beautiful day! (Thinkstockphotos.com)

Family enjoying a beautiful day! (Thinkstockphotos.com)

One of our specialties at Healthy Living is helping patients get up and running with insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors while working closely with their physicians and insurance providers. We are a Medicare insulin pump supplier and our Insulin Pump Therapy Team frequently serves Medicare members from Michigan and around the country.

When Medicare beneficiaries contact our Insulin Pump Therapy Team, George and Autumn are ready to answer questions and get the ball rolling. The first thing that they do is begin insurance verification and help patients understand the necessary steps for obtaining Medicare’s approval for a new pump. There are certain lab results and documentation that need to be collected in order to confirm patients qualify for the insulin pump per Medicare guidelines.

After approval, when Healthy Living supplies Medicare insulin pumps, they begin as a rental, and the patient may be responsible for a monthly copay depending on supplemental insurance coverage. After 13 months, the pump belongs to the user and it remains under warranty from the manufacturer for four years. Healthy Living continues to provide insulin pump supplies, with the patient approving the refill order monthly via text, phone call, or email.

Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for Medicare members to obtain insulin pumps to improve their personal diabetes management and simplify their lives. Reach us with any questions at 866.779.8512 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text).

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Can Turmeric Help Manage Diabetes? What the Evidence Says…

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Curcumin, which is found in the spice turmeric, has been found to help control blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, reduce diabetes-related complications, and even prevent diabetes. Check out this article to learn about turmeric, a potential positive addition to your existing diabetes management plan.