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Marissa Brings New Energy to Our Customer Care Team

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Welcome Marissa! One of our two newest employees, Marissa has been with Healthy Living for a little over a month. I had a great conversation with her recently, and here is the some of the scoop on this wonderful gal.

Marissa is a Customer Care Representative. She trained with mentors Christina and Amanda – there were online components to the training and the main focus was a goal-oriented, hands-on approach. She has always wanted to work in the City, and our headquarters is in Detroit. She says that downtown is an “awesome atmosphere” and “there is a lot of optimism in Detroit and here [Healthy Living].” Marissa’s favorite Detroit discovery so far has been Avalon Bakery & Café on Woodward.

For three and a half years before this, Marissa worked as a server. She is working toward becoming a wildlife vet with the (amazing) goal of starting a wildlife sanctuary. Marissa has a special place in her heart for the wellbeing of farm animals. She also loves to work out and is small but strong!

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Insulin Pump Therapy Blog Round-Up

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Over the last year or so of writing the Healthy Living blog, a topic that we continue to focus on is insulin pump therapy. There are so many benefits to using an insulin pump and so many questions about how to get started. Here is a round-up of some of our most helpful past blogs about insulin pump therapy (with links):

Healthy Living works with many insurance companies in Michigan and throughout the country to provide insulin pumps and pump supplies, including Medicare. If you have any questions about getting started with insulin pumps or CGM, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team at 866.779.8512, Option 2 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text). 

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First 2017 Player of the Week: Dave!

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The season has begun – the Healthy Living Player of the Week is back. Last fall, four Healthy Living team members were chosen and featured on our blog. Players of the Week are nominated by their coworkers for working hard, making key plays, and sacrificing for the team.

Dave was nominated by Sherece, and these were her comments: He is a great co-worker to work with. David is always willing to help out, answer questions, and problem solve…and he is funny.

Dave’s favorite thing about working at Healthy Living is being able to make a difference in someone else’s life, and his role is to make sure orders are shipped out on time and properly. We are all so lucky and blessed to work with Dave, our first 2017 Player of the Week.

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Kicking Off the Party at Little Caesars Arena & Mike’s Pizza Bar

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Mike’s Pizza Bar is truly a tribute to Mike Ilitch. Healthy Living had a teambuilding event at Little Caesars Arena in late September that began with dinner at Mike’s Pizza. Mr. Ilitch’s favorite phrases and mottos line the top borders of the walls, like “You’re Only as Good as the Last Pizza You Made.” There are also pictures of him playing during his baseball career.

After dinner and listening to a relevant speaker, we entered the arena right from Mike’s Pizza, and about 25 of us watched the pre-season game against Chicago. The new space is beautiful, and it was awesome to see it right after it opened! Find a way to check out the new arena, whether it's to see the Red Wings, Pistons, or another event. It’s interesting to see how different it feels from the Joe! Detroit’s season home opener was October 5 against Minnesota, so the regular season is now in full swing. Go Wings!

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Animas Pump Line Shuts Down with Transition Plan in Place

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On October 5, Animas Corporation announced that it is discontinuing manufacturing and sale of Animas Vibe® and One Touch Ping® insulin pumps. Medtronic will assist existing Animas pump patients, caregivers, and providers with the transition, including ensuring access to proper supplies. We know this news may be unsettling to our Animas customers, however, from what we understand, you will still be able to access pump supplies and support for quite some time. Learn more about the transition by visiting www.medtronicdiabetes.com/Animas. For the ‘Nuts & Bolts’ of the change, read Mike Hoskins’ article on Diabetes Mine.

You are welcome to call our Insulin Pump Therapy Team to learn more as well. Healthy Living works with Medtronic, Omnipod, and Tandem – all manufacturers of excellent insulin pumps – and our Team is well-versed in all of their product lines. We are in network with all major insurances in Michigan, including Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Priority Health, state Medicaid, and Medicare for insulin pumps and pump supplies. You can reach us at 866.779.8512, Option 2 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text).

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Fingerstick-Free FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System Has Been FDA Approved

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The FDA has approved Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System for adults, a glucose monitoring system that does not require a blood sample for calibration. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems require a finger stick for calibration approximately 2-4 times a day. The FDA Press Release describes how this flash glucose monitoring system works:

The FreeStyle Libre Flash system reduces the need for fingerstick testing by using a small sensor wire inserted below the skin’s surface that continuously measures and monitors glucose levels. Users can determine glucose levels by waving a dedicated, mobile reader above the sensor wire to determine if glucose levels are too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia), and how glucose levels are changing.

This new system could be a game changer for people with diabetes, reducing the cost of supplies and the discomfort of performing daily finger sticks, and creating the need for less site changes since the sensor can be used for 10 days. The FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System should be available by the end of the year. We’re here to answer any questions you may have at 866.779.8512 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text).

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A Beautiful Sunday Morning at the JDRF One Walk to Find a Cure for T1D

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The Healthy Living table at the One Walk...check out the Jenga tower!

The Healthy Living table at the One Walk...check out the Jenga tower!

It was really a glorious morning for the JDRF One Walk on Sunday, a couple of weekends ago! There was a lot of great energy on the Detroit Riverfront with music, snacks, and kids’ activities (like bouncehouses)! Many teams, big and small, came ready to walk in support of their friends or family members with T1D.

Healthy Living sponsored a table, and we had a good chance to talk with a lot of people. We greeted them, offered stress balls and bubbles, and also had the opportunity to answer questions about our services. The hit of the morning at our table was giant Jenga. Many groups of kids played, and some of the race volunteers put a lot of concentration into the game. One young guy built a tower to the point where there were no more possible moves. (Check out the picture attached to this blog.) Very impressive!

JDRF always puts on amazing events, and we were proud to participate in this year’s Detroit One Walk.

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Net Promoter Score Survey in Process with Feedback Starting Strong

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Visit myhlms.com to complete our Net Promoter Score survey.

Visit myhlms.com to complete our Net Promoter Score survey.

Healthy Living periodically surveys our customers to monitor our Net Promoter Score (NPS), a measure of customer satisfaction and loyalty. We have an active survey in process again this year on the home page of our website, and we are also collecting responses via phone, text message, and web chat. This is the third time in a few years that we have sought this kind of quantitative feedback.

The survey is based on a scale of 0-10 (with 10 being best) and asks one question: How likely are you to recommend Healthy Living to a friend or co-worker? There is an opportunity to give written comment as well. Based on the current round of responses, we currently have a Net Promoter Score of 66. Over the last 30 days, we have had 69 customers submit responses to the survey on our website and on the phone. Fifty-four of these customers gave us a 9 or a 10.

As we have shared on our blog in the past, it is our promise to our customers, health plan partners, and provider partners that when you contact Healthy Living, the customer care agent will be friendly and warm, knowledgeable about the products and disease, and will solve any issues you might be experiencing.

You can visit our website at myhlms.com to complete the brief, one-question survey. Or, you can submit your response directly to an agent the next time you call, chat on our website, or text. We look forward to hearing from you – thank you for helping us continually improve.

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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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Medtronic Infusion Set Voluntary Recall

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Medtronic recently announced a voluntary recall of specific lots of MiniMed infusion sets used with their insulin pumps, due to potential over-delivery of insulin after an infusion set change. According to Medtronic, this can be caused by fluid blocking the infusion set membrane during the priming/fill-tubing process.

Visit this Medtronic page to download Medtronic’s Notification Letter and learn how to determine if you have recalled infusion sets. If you do have recalled infusion sets right now, Medtronic provides Key Steps to follow. You can also reach Medtronic to ask questions about the recall at 888.204.7616.

The infusion sets currently being shipped by Medtronic contain a new, enhanced membrane material that significantly reduces the risk being addressed by this recall.

Our Insulin Pump Therapy Team can also help if you need additional assistance – just call us at 866.779.8512 (Option 2).

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Come Out and Walk to Make a Cure a Reality!

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Lighthouse at Milliken State Park (Flickr, Corey Seeman)

Lighthouse at Milliken State Park (Flickr, Corey Seeman)

The JDRF One Walk has one goal: to create a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D). This year, Healthy Living Medical Supply will again be sponsoring the JDRF One Walk and will be at the Detroit event on the morning of Sunday, September 17th. We would love to see you there! Come out and walk the mile to help raise money to support life-changing breakthroughs that give hope to everyone impacted by type 1 diabetes! Even better, Milliken State Park and the Detroit Riverwalk are beautiful in the fall and offer great views.

Join the Movement and Participate in the Detroit 2017 JDRF One Walk!

Hope to see you in a couple of weeks!!

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The College Diabetes Network Helps You Live Well at School and Beyond

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Orange tree aglow (image from Wikipedia Commons)

Orange tree aglow (image from Wikipedia Commons)

September is here, cooler air is in our midst, the rogue orange tree is popping up, and school days are beginning again. If you are off to college, I highly recommend that you check out the College Diabetes Network (CDN). Their vision is to enable students and young professionals to thrive with diabetes. CDN does this by creating innovative peer-based programs to connect and empower students and by offering relevant, noteworthy information on living well with diabetes.

Campus Communities to Connect, Learn, and Empower

College Diabetes Network is made up of a community of young adults with diabetes, with peer networks and chapters across many college campuses. Chapters are student-led groups that allow students to connect with others who understand what it’s like to live with diabetes. These groups are also a place to learn about the latest diabetes technology and gadgets, exchange tips and tricks for managing diabetes on campus, and anything else that students are interested in doing. Find a CDN chapter on your campus here.

A Resource Hub

CDN is a center for information and resources directly relevant to the lives of young adults with diabetes. Their website is full of wisdom, with sections that break down all kinds of information on these topics:

  • Preparing for College
  • Life on Campus
  • Diabetes at Work
  • Diabetes 24/7
  • Support System

Definitely visit the College Diabetes Network website, and enjoy the beginning of fall!

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New Guide Meter from Accu-Chek Makes Pediatric Testing Simple

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Child sleeping (thinkstock.com)

Child sleeping (thinkstock.com)

Accu-Chek has released their new Guide meter, with many benefits including:

  • Spill-resistant and simple to take just one strip with the SmartPack vial
  • Simple to use by placing a small drop of blood anywhere along the end of the test strip
  • Anytime testing and easy to see with a strip port light
  • Automatic logging of results into an app on your smartphone
  • Accurate with reliable results you can trust – 10/10 accuracy
  • Manufactured in the U.S.A.

This is an excellent meter choice for pediatric patients - parents like the port light for ease of late night testing of a sleeping child. And having all of the blood glucose information on a phone means you don't have to manually record numbers in a paper log book. 

Getting Started with Your Accu-Chek Guide Meter

Check out these resources to learn how to set up the meter and connect via Bluetooth to your phone:

·        Setting Up and Using the Guide Meter

·        Directions for Connecting the Guide Meter with Your Phone

Learn More

Reach out to us at Healthy Living to find out more about the Accu-Chek Guide meter and what your insurance covers.

Text: 248.577.9903

Phone: 866.779.8512

Chat: myhlms.com

Talk to you soon!

 

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Tandem t:slim X2 & Dexcom G5 CGM Have Teamed Up!

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Playing in the backyard (thinkstock.com)

Playing in the backyard (thinkstock.com)

A new insulin pump & CGM duo has been FDA approved. The t:slim X2 Insulin Pump is now compatible with the Dexcom G5 Mobile CGM! Tandem is currently sending software updates to existing t:slim X2 Pump users who want to add the CGM feature from home using their personal computer.

We are ready to take questions about this update and process any orders. Call us at 866.779.8512 (Option 2) to reach our Insulin Pump Therapy Team for knowledgeable service.

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New Saturday Hours Starting This Weekend!

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As a company focused on making things as easy as possible for our customers, we want to be responsive to their needs and continually improve our service. Our new Saturday hours begin on August 26. We will be open from 9 am – 2 pm EST. We are looking forward to serving you during this time!

Saturday hours are starting on a trial basis, and during this time, staffing will be limited. Please be patient if you call us and don't reach an agent as quickly as you normally would. Texting us or web chatting are great options as well for the weekend! Here is our contact information with all of the great ways to reach us:

CONTACT US

Text: 248.577.9903

Chat: myhlms.com

Phone: 866.779.8512

Fax: 866.779.8511

At Healthy Living, we realize that diabetes is a complex disease, and that is one of the big reasons we have expanded our hours to be available on the weekend. Whether it’s enrolling, placing a new order, checking on a prescription or order status, or another question or concern, we are prepared to help. Since many doctors’ offices and insurance plans are only open on weekdays, we may not be able to contact them on your behalf during Saturday hours. Please know that we will do our best to help in any way possible within our means.

We’re looking forward to working with you soon!

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New Research: Lack of Sleep Tied to Higher Risk of Diabetes in Kids

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A recent UK study suggests that children who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than kids who typically sleep longer. Each additional hour of sleep children get at night is associated with lower body weight, more lean muscle mass, and less accumulation of sugars in the blood. Since obesity and high blood sugars are contributing factors to developing type 2 diabetes, you can see the possible correlation.

This study, based on 4,525 children ages 9 or 10, found that kids who slept less were more likely to be extremely overweight or obese and have more body fat. Children who got less sleep on average per night were also more likely to have a risk factor called insulin resistance, where their bodies don’t respond normally to insulin. An additional factor, insufficient sleep also affects the level of hormones that control appetite, making kids hungrier and increasing cravings for sweet and salty snacks.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children ages 6 to 12 should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night. “Getting enough sleep helps keep our appetite in check and is protective against insulin resistance,” said James Gangwisch, a psychiatry researcher at Columbia University who wasn’t involved in the study.

Read the entire Reuters article.

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Healthy Living Is Looking Forward to Grunberger Diabetes Patient Appreciation Day!

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Lake Huron in the morning (photo by M. Lewis)

Lake Huron in the morning (photo by M. Lewis)

Next weekend, Grunberger Diabetes Institute in Bloomfield Hills will host its Patient Appreciation Day. Grunberger Diabetes Institute provides comprehensive patient evaluation and treatment of diabetes and diabetes-related conditions. Healthy Living will have a table and be ready to meet members of the  Institute’s community, talk about insulin pumps and CGM, and enroll attendees for home delivery of diabetes supplies. In addition to educational resources, the event will also have a photo booth for fun, and food and drink.

Grunberger patients – if you haven’t heard, we’re in network with HAP now! Whether you’re a busy parent with a child who’s living with T1D or a member of HAP’s Medicare plan, we can take care of your supply needs with outstanding customer service. Here is a list of all the insurance plans we partner with.

See you there!

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Rickelle Keeps Things Super Friendly in the Pharmacy

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Rickelle in the Healthy Living Pharmacy (photo by Jennifer O'Donnell)

Rickelle in the Healthy Living Pharmacy (photo by Jennifer O'Donnell)

Meet Rickelle! Rickelle is Healthy Living’s newest Pharmacy Technician, and she has been working here for about seven months. She mostly works with our inhalation patients, including checking in with them regularly to see if they need refills on their supplies. Rickelle also works with new pharmacy patients to help them begin receiving prescriptions from Healthy Living Pharmacy, ensuring that each new patient has a smooth and successful transition.

Rickelle believes that it is extremely important to build relationships with her patients, and it shows. She makes each conversation and interaction with her patients memorable, pleasant, and cheerful. This wonderful woman is very caring and will always go the extra mile for Healthy Living patients to make them feel comfortable and valued.

Describing the philosophy of the Healthy Living Pharmacy team, Rickelle says, “The most important thing for the patients to know is that we care about their privacy and convenience, and we work to save them a trip to the pharmacy by delivering their package to their doorstep, free of delivery charges.” She also explains that she and the pharmacy team create easy transitions for pharmacy transfers and, “For any of our patients who need refills, we will contact the doctor for them.”

Outside of work, Rickelle loves spending time with her one-year-old daughter, Serenity, and her six-year-old son, Jamal. Summer is a wonderful time for Rickelle and her family because they love getting outside and playing at the park! On Sundays, Rickelle and her kids devote their time to church and family.

Rickelle explained, “What I like most about working at Healthy Living is that everyone is all about teamwork and they're all friendly! They are very serious about their work and also making sure that patients are satisfied at the end of the day.”

We are so thankful that Rickelle is part of our team!

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Getting Ready for Back-to-School with a 504 Plan

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(Flickr, woodleywonderworks)

(Flickr, woodleywonderworks)

Nothing can beat the freedom of summer. I am sad to say that back-to-school time is coming back around the bend. There are many resources that can help you and your kids get ready to head back to the classroom with diabetes.

One aspect of planning that is especially important for children with diabetes is the 504 Plan. According to Beyond Type 1, “A 504 Plan ensures that no student with any sort of disability is discriminated against, and is given the same education as every other student, all the while being provided a safe space to manage their condition as needed during school.”

To learn more and work on developing a 504 Plan for your child, here are some awesome resources:

Enjoy August and savor the rest of your summer!

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Come Check Out the JDRF Summer Bash in the "D"!

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Get ready for sand volleyball! (Pixabay.com)

Get ready for sand volleyball! (Pixabay.com)

Are you ready for sand volleyball, basketball, and a morning full of fun outdoor activities? Have you heard about the JDRF Summer Bash in the "D" coming up next week on Saturday, August 19? The event is free to attend and, in addition to the fun, will offer free drinks and snacks, and resources on subjects like:

  • Back to school tools and information
  • Fitness and sports tips
  • The latest in T1D technology and products
  • JDRF OneWalk, Ride, and Marathon info (coming up soon!)

Registration is required - click here to register.

Healthy Living will be sponsoring the event, and we'll be there! Come talk to us about enrolling for CGM, starting on an insulin pump, or upgrading to a new pump. Or just come by to learn about the newest technology out there for T1D. We'd love to talk with you or challenge you to a game of giant Connect Four!

More details about the event:

WE LOVE TO HELP.

  • Reach us through online chat at myhlms.com.

  • Call us @ (866)779-8512 or text us @ (248)577-9903.

  • Sign up for the Healthy Living blog at myhlms.com/subscribe.

  • Check out our online supply store at store.myhlms.com for accessories and over-the-counter medications.

  • Visit myhlms.com/providers to electronically complete and sign prescriptions for patients.