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Grunberger Patient Appreciation Day a Great Success

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Despite the weather (pouring rain all day!), the Grunberger Diabetes Institute’s Patient Appreciation Day on Saturday, August 25 had an awesome turnout! Over 100 patients attended the event outside Dr. Grunberger’s office -- a fun, educational opportunity to understand what resources are available for diabetes care. Jennifer from Healthy Living Medical Supply attended the event, along with many of our manufacturer partners representing CGM and insulin pump solutions. The Grunberger Diabetes Institute also served food and sponsored a raffle for patients and guests.

Dr. George Grunberger is internationally renowned for his work with people with diabetes. His office is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and offers cutting-edge diabetes and endocrine problems management, one-stop service for comprehensive care, a multidisciplinary team, and participation in research studies. Learn more about the Grunberger Diabetes Institute and check out their blog.

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Tandem’s Basal-IQ Predictive Low Glucose Suspend Now Available in t:slim X2 Insulin Pumps

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The Tandem Basal-IQ predictive low glucose suspend (PLGS) system has recently been approved by the FDA for pump users as young as six years old. It is a feature of the newest Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pumps (and available as a software update for older t:slim X2 pumps), working in collaboration with the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM). The new PLGS algorithm stops basal insulin delivery when low blood sugar is predicted (30 minutes ahead of time), suspends, and then restarts insulin delivery once blood sugar levels begin to rise. The goal is to prevent or reduce hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in users, without alarms.

The American Diabetes Association defines hypoglycemia: “Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) is when your blood glucose levels have fallen low enough that you need to take action to bring them back to your target range. This is usually when your blood glucose is less than 70 mg/dL.” Study results have shown that the Tandem Basal-IQ predictive low glucose suspend system reduced time in hypoglycemia by 31%, or about 19 minutes per day. The Basal-IQ system is also the first automated insulin delivery system compatible with a no-fingerstick calibration CGM (the Dexcom G6).

All of the Tandem t:slim X2 pumps shipping from Healthy Living Medical Supply now have the updated Basal-IQ PLGS algorithm. If you already have a Tandem t:slim X2 pump and it’s in warranty, you will be able to get a software update to obtain the new algorithm. The Basal-IQ Technology software update for the t:slim X2 Insulin Pump is now available – get started here. The collective capabilities of insulin pumps and CGM keep wowing us! To find out more about new ways like this to help manage diabetes, call our Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy team at 866.779.8512 (option 2). We are here to help!

We Answer Customer Calls FAST

When working with Healthy Living, you can be assured that you'll always be able to connect with a live agent fast...for the month of July our Average Speed of Answer was 20 seconds!

When working with Healthy Living, you can be assured that you'll always be able to connect with a live agent fast...for the month of July our Average Speed of Answer was 20 seconds!

Oftentimes when working with high-quality durable medical equipment suppliers it’s the little things that matter most...like getting your call answered FAST.

At Healthy Living, we make a guarantee that when customers, providers, partners or health plan reps call or chat, they will receive access to a live human fast. We use our call center software to measure how we're performing in this area by analyzing the "Average Speed of Answer" data. For the month of July, our average speed of answer was 20 seconds! (And an update: As of September 27, our average speed of answer for September was also 20 seconds!) This means that from the time a caller pressed an option until a live agent picked up the phone, callers waited no more than 20 seconds on average.

What does this mean for our customers and partners?

  1. Faster turnaround time on customer orders. Our competition regularly directs callers to a voicemail OR has longer hold times, both of which can substantially delay orders.

  2. Less administrative burden for our health plan partners & providers. Because our hold times are minimal, our providers, health plan reps, and case workers can do what they do best: focus on quality patient care.

  3. Decreased frustration and increased customer happiness. People with diabetes shouldn't be burdened by voicemails and long hold times when working with their DME supplier for their needed CGM, insulin pump, and general diabetes supplies.

If you are tired of poor customer service, give us a call at 866.779.8512 or chat with an agent live to start the simple enrollment process. We provide CGM, insulin pumps, insulin pump supplies, and diabetes testing supplies from leading manufacturers including Medtronic Diabetes, Tandem Diabetes, OmniPod, and Dexcom. 

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Healthy Living Salutes Diabetes Educators

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The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) annual conference just passed in Baltimore, Maryland. Healthy Living was there to meet diabetes educators and product manufacturers and to simply learn. Educators are in the trenches with patients and their families, teaching them the skills to be successful and guiding them in the various technologies and tools used to manage the disease.

Six diabetes educators were honored for their achievements and contributions in the field of diabetes education at the AADE conference:

  • Diabetes Educator of the Year Award - Jane K. Dickinson, RN, PhD, CDE

  • Lifetime Achievement Award - Keith Campbell, RPh, FASHP, CDE, FAAD (posthumous award)

  • Allene Van Son Distinguished Service Award - Malinda Peeples, RN, MS, CDE, FAADE

  • 2018 Strategic Initiative Award – Jasmine Gonzalvo, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, CDE, LDE, FAADE

  • Rising Star Awards - Melanie L. Duran, RN, BSN, CDE and Clipper F. Young, PharmD, MPH, BC-ADM, CDE

We support the work of diabetes educators on a daily basis by providing them with meter kits to use for new Healthy Living patients in the clinic during training. Healthy Living also reinforces the teaching of diabetes educators by making sure our patients receive refills for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) supplies, insulin pump supplies, and testing supplies on time, every 30 or 90 days (depending on the patient’s insurance plan).

What it comes down to is that patients can have the best technology in the world, but if they don’t have education, they won’t be able to take full advantage of an insulin pump or CGM system. Read the article New Diabetes Technology Options Can Ease Disease Management, but Education Key for more information about this. Diabetes educators are absolutely essential to the well-being and successful treatment plans of people with diabetes.

Healthy Living Medical Supply Wishes Our Pediatric Patients with Diabetes a Great Start to the School Year!

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Healthy Living Medical Supply wishes all of our pediatric patients and families a successful start to the new school year! We know that the start of a new school year brings a mixture of excitement along and anxiety for many families - this is the case, perhaps even more so, for children and families impacted by type one diabetes.

Healthy Living Medical Supply understands the unique needs of pediatric diabetes patients better than any other durable medical equipment (DME) supplier - we offer a unique pediatric program featuring free meters to be left at school and a hassle-free supply refill experience that ensures children always have the necessary supplies on hand to be successful living with diabetes. We work hard to ensure that our patients always have enough pump supplies, CGM supplies, and diabetes testing supplies available. 

The new school year is also an opportunity to consider beneficial diabetes technologies that can assist parents by helping them stay better connected to their children throughout the day. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems from Dexcom and Medtronic help parents stay connected to their child throughout the day via an app on their smartphones - this helps parents monitor blood glucose levels remotely while their child is at school. You may learn more about our CGM systems via our CGM page and by calling a member of our CGM/insulin pump therapy team at 866.779.8512 (option 2) to learn more. 

Check out these additional resources on our website to help children and college-age students living with diabetes at school: 

Getting Ready for Back to School with a 504 Plan

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

Healthy Living Medical Supply, based in Detroit, Michigan, is in network with all major insurances in the state of Michigan including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, Priority Health, Medicaid, and Medicare. Contact us today at 866.778.512 or via website chat to start the simple enrollment process.

Healthy Living Salutes Our Labor Day Weekend Work Team!

Happy Labor Day to our customers, providers, and partners!

Happy Labor Day to our customers, providers, and partners!

While Labor Day Weekend for many people means picnics and celebrating the unofficial end of summer, for people with diabetes it can mean delays in the delivery of their needed CGM and insulin pump supplies due to Holiday shipping interruptions. Healthy Living recognizes this and pulled together a Saturday orders processing team to ensure minimal disruption in supply delivery to our customers due to the Labor Day Holiday.

Five members of our Detroit-based customer care team focused on processing refill orders while three members of our shipping team in Troy packed shipments - we even arranged for a special UPS pick-up to in the early afternoon to ensure timely delivery of these critical medical supplies. Our team routinely looks at the calendar for potential supply bottlenecks that may be caused by holidays and plans accordingly. 

While we don't like to have our employees working on holiday weekends, we also realize that we are in the business of supporting people with a chronic disease and on occasion this involves weekend/holiday shifts. Healthy Living salutes our Saturday orders processing team of Donald, Christina, Tammi, John, Steve, Tara, Mansa and George for their work in helping our customers receive their diabetes supplies in a timely manner.

Looking for a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier for CGM, insulin pump supplies, or a new pump? Healthy Living Medical Supply specializes in diabetes related technologies and therapies and takes pride in providing compassionate and efficient customer service to our customers who are living with diabetes. Give us a call at 866.779.8512 (we answer calls FAST), chat with an agent live or fill the form on this page to start the simple, five minute enrollment process to begin receiving your CGM and insulin pump supplies from a group of people that get it.

Healthy Living Medical Supply is in-network with most major insurance companies in the state of Michigan, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan (HAP), Priority Health, Michigan Medicaid, Medicare, and many others. 

Dexcom Acquires TypeZero Technologies: More Options for People with Diabetes

Dexcom acquires TypeZero Technologies and looks to enter the artificial pancreas and insulin delivery space.

Dexcom acquires TypeZero Technologies and looks to enter the artificial pancreas and insulin delivery space.

While nobody has a crystal ball, Dexcom's recent acquisition of TypeZero technologies is likely to mean even more options for people living with diabetes. The past year has seen a good deal of innovation in diabetes technology with Medtronic's release of their 670G hybrid closed loop system, Dexcom's finger stick free G6 CGM system, Medtronic's launch of their stand alone Guardian Connect CGM system, and Tandem's soon-to-be-released Basal IQ technology.

According to an article posted on the Diabtes.co.uk site this past Tuesday, Dexcom's acquisition of TypeZero might mean they are positioning the company to enter into the "artificial pancreas" and insulin delivery space. A compelling aspect of this deal is that TypeZero has already been working with a variety of companies including Tandem Diabetes, and Cellnovo - TyperZero's inControl system - seeks to create compatibility with multiple pump/CGM combinations, not just those that are proprietary in nature. Overall this is excellent news for people with diabetes, providers, and care team members. 

Looking for a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier for CGM, insulin pump supplies, or a new pump? Healthy Living Medical Supply specializes in diabetes-related technologies and therapies and takes pride in providing compassionate and efficient customer service to our customers who are living with diabetes. Give us a call at 866.779.8512, chat with an agent live, or fill the form on this page to start the simple, five-minute enrollment process to begin receiving your CGM and insulin pump supplies from a company that gets it.

Healthy Living Medical Supply is in network with most major insurance companies in the state of Michigan, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan (HAP), Priority Health, Michigan Medicaid, Medicare, and many others. 

 

Introducing the Healthy Living Medical Supply Pediatric Program for Children with Type 1 Diabetes

At Healthy Living, we understand the unique needs of our pediatric members and their care teams. Call us at 866.779.8512 to learn more about our Pediatric Diabetes Supply program and to enroll for the great customer service that you deserve.

At Healthy Living, we understand the unique needs of our pediatric members and their care teams. Call us at 866.779.8512 to learn more about our Pediatric Diabetes Supply program and to enroll for the great customer service that you deserve.

Our team consistently works to better understand the needs and challenges of people of all ages who are living with diabetes (members of our team even wore insulin pumps filled with saline solution to learn more about the ins and outs of using an insulin pump!). We believe that working with a durable medical equipment provider for diabetes-related supplies should involve compassionate customer service with an experience that is EASY for patients. We know this is even more important for pediatric patients living with diabetes and members of their caregiving teams. As a result, we have created a program to support the unique needs of our pediatric diabetes population. You can read more about the program on our pediatrics page, but here are a few highlights: 

  1. Healthy Living Medical Supply provides extra meters for pediatric patients to leave with the school nurse, in the backpack, or in their school locker so that their primary meter may remain home.

  2. We stay in routine contact with the parents/primary caregivers to ensure needed supplies are on hand so patients can be successful in living with diabetes.

  3. We know CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) technology - wouldn't it be great if parents could monitor their children's blood glucose levels while they were sleeping, at school, or on a sleepover at a friend's home? Healthy Living carries all major brands of CGM systems that not only provide pediatric patients with greater insights into their blood glucose levels, but also allow parents and caregivers to have access to the metrics via their smartphones.

  4. When the time comes to consider insulin pump therapy Healthy Living has you covered. We're able to supply insulin pumps and and pump supplies from both Tandem Diabetes and Medtronic Diabetes with excellent customer care in the process.

  5. We provide pediatric-friendly meters with Bluetooth capabilities so data can be easily viewed and shared. More about our pediatric friendly meters here and here.

  6. Order processing is simple for refills when working with Healthy Living - it shouldn't take weeks to receive your child's needed diabetes supplies. Our warehouse is located in Troy, Michigan and our Customer Care Team is located in downtown Detroit, Michigan, so your order will arrive fast, typically within 2-3 business days after receiving your approval via a simple text message.

If you are tired of poor customer service and fighting with your current DME supplier for diabetes supplies, give us a call at 866.779.8512 or chat with an agent live to start the simple enrollment process. Healthy Living Medical Supply is in network with most major insurances in the State of Michigan, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan (HAP), Priority Health, Michigan Medicaid, Children's Special Health Care Services of Michigan, and many more. Keep your business local! Healthy Living Medical Supply is also the only Michigan-based DME focused entirely on diabetes. 

Manage Your Deliveries with UPS My Choice

Enroll in the UPS My Choice program to gain control over your deliveries from Healthy Living.

Enroll in the UPS My Choice program to gain control over your deliveries from Healthy Living.

Chances are if you receive insulin pump supplies and/or continuous glucose monitoring supplies from Healthy Living Medical Supply, they are delivered to your doorstep via UPS. Healthy Living provides customers with UPS tracking notifications via text messaging or direct to email, but for more visibility and control over your orders we recommend signing up for the UPS My Choice program.

My Choice provides you with the following features:

  1. Delivery alerts via email or text message

  2. A delivery planner that lets you see your orders in a calendar view

  3. Approximate delivery time so you have a better idea when your important diabetes supplies will be delivered

  4. Ability to leave delivery instructions, which is particularly useful in an apartment complex or when detailed instructions are needed to ensure successful delivery of your supplies

  5. Sign for your packages online

  6. Pick up your supplies at a more convenient location by requesting orders be sent to a UPS facility or a UPS Store near your residence

It is our goal to ensure that our customers always have the supplies they need on hand to be successful in managing diabetes -- the UPS My Choice program can help by giving you more control over your shipments. 

To enroll in UPS My Choice to manage your orders, click this link. The process is simple and takes no more than five minutes. 

If you are looking for a diabetes durable medical equipment (DME) supplier with an emphasis on providing great customer service with an empathetic mindset, give us a call at 866.779.8512 or chat live with an agent. We provide leading insulin pumps and supplies from Tandem Diabetes, Medtronic Diabetes and Omnipod. We also offer continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM) from Dexcom and Medtronic and are in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan (HAP), Priority Health, Michigan Medicaid, Medicare and most other major insurances in Michigan. 

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HLMS Now In-Network with Priority Health Medicare for CGM

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The Healthy Living Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team

The Healthy Living Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has become a mightily useful tool for helping people with diabetes understand their trends, manage their blood sugar levels more accurately, and make better-informed treatment decisions overall. Our Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team loves to help patients get up and running with continuous glucose monitoring, and Healthy Living Medical Supply is now in-network with Priority Health Medicare for CGM.

Are you ready to learn more about CGM? Here are a few past blog posts to check out:

You can reach the Healthy Living team at 866.779.8512 (Option 2) for more information about CGM, and if you’re ready, begin the process of obtaining a continuous glucose monitoring system for managing your diabetes. When you call, we’ll answer your questions and run a no-cost insurance benefits check to find out about your coverage.

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The Link Between Diabetes & Heart Disease

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There is a substantial connection between diabetes and heart disease. In fact, the American Heart Association reports that if you have diabetes, your risk of developing heart disease is more than double that of the general population. To better understand how cardiovascular disease and diabetes interface in the human body, check out the video, Break It Down: Diabetes & Heart Disease and the associated healthline article. This video, featuring Dr. Priyanka Wali, explains the link between these two diseases and emphasizes that lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on improving health outcomes.

The main diabetes-related health characteristics that can increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, poorly managed levels of blood fats like cholesterol and triglycerides, obesity, and living a sedentary lifestyle. Dr. Wali recommends being attentive and proactive and making these seven changes to reduce the chances of developing cardiovascular disease:

  1. Quit smoking
  2. Get moving
  3. Reduce stress and get enough sleep
  4. Lose weight
  5. Know your numbers
  6. Optimize cholesterol levels
  7. Take medications as prescribed

Check out the healthline page, Get to the Heart of Type 2 Diabetes, for more related articles. Let’s keep reading, keep learning, and keep moving!

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Healthy Living Supplies Throughout Michigan's Upper Peninsula

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Sunset on Isle Royale

Sunset on Isle Royale

Hello Michigan Upper Peninsula folks! When I think of the U.P., many great memories come to mind. I think of Copper Country, Tahquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point, Marquette, the Pictured Rocks, chilly Lake Superior, the Soo Locks, remote Isle Royale, the Northern Lights, and crossing the bridge into St. Ignace to the freshest air and ultimate Michigan beauty.

To those of you lucky enough to live in this paradise, we want to let you know that Healthy Living ships supplies throughout not only the Lower Peninsula, but the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well. We provide insulin pumps, pump supplies, continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM), and diabetes testing supplies throughout the U.P. So here's a shout out to all of you enjoying Michigan summer in Escanaba, Houghten and Hancock, Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, Munising, Grand Marais, and other cities, towns, and wild country between!

Healthy Living Medical Supply accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBS) and many other insurance plans for residents of Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula. We're here and ready to help at 866.779.8512 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text)!

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In the News: Saliva Test Could Improve Diabetes Control & Treatment

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Recent studies have shown that proteins in saliva can reflect high blood sugar and associated disease processes in children and adolescents with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes. This means that a simple saliva sample could replace blood tests to assess and monitor diabetes and can provide this information long before the appearance of clinical symptoms. Read the article for in-depth information on the research.

Co-author of the study, Professor Heleni Vastardis of NKU Athens School of Dentistry, explains, “The signs of diabetic pathology are already in place way before manifestation of clinical complications." This testing mechanism could lead to better prediction and prevention of long-term complications of diabetes.  

 

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New Technology: Offering the Contour Next ONE Smart Meter

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The blood glucose meter is one of the most important technologies to help people with diabetes manage their disease. Many of the patients we serve, particularly those using a Medtronic insulin pump, use Contour Next test strips to test their blood glucose levels. To accompany this type of test strip, we now provide the Contour Next ONE  smart meter for blood glucose monitoring. This meter is wireless and has an app for managing data from readings on a smart phone. Approved by the FDA in 2016, the Ascensia Contour Next ONE is the latest in the line of Contour meters from the company formerly known as Bayer.

Read a full, insightful review of the Contour Next ONE by dTech Diabetes Mine blogger Mike Hoskins. Hoskins notes these features and changes in the Contour Next ONE:

  • Sleeker and slimmer design
  • New screen, changed from color to black & white
  • Watch battery, instead of a rechargeable USB
  • Port light to illuminate the spot where the test strip is inserted
  • Target lights to indicate the range of your reading
  • Second-chance sampling, with a 60-second time window
  • Improved accuracy
  • Bluetooth to sync with the mobile app
  • Ability to share diabetes data through the app

To find out more about the Contour Next ONE smart meter and other diabetes technology, contact us at 866.779.8512 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text).

Tape Tips for CGM and Insulin Pump Sites

We are commonly asked for tips on how to help sensors for CGM systems, infusion sets for insulin pumps, and Omnipods stick better - adhesion is even more important during summer months with increased body perspiration.

We routinely reference the Tape Tips from Medtronic's website when working with customers in coming up with ways to help with adhesion. Before purchasing expensive tapes and transparent dressings that might not even work, be sure to try these simple tips. 

One particular tip that may help is listed directly below and involves the use of non-deodorant antiperspirant. 

Use of Non-Deodorant Antiperspirant at Pump and Sensor Sites:

Non-deodorant antiperspirant can be used at pump and sensor sites to suppress the sweat glands so the adhesive sticks better.  It also helps cut down on possible skin reactions.

Certain Dri Solid Non Deodorant Antiperspirant is commonly found in many drug stores.  It should be labeled and only used at pump and sensor sites.  Apply to the pump infusion and/or sensor site.  Let it soak in for 10-15 minutes. Wash the residue off with soap and water or alcohol.  Wipe the top of the applicator with alcohol to keep it clean.  Insert the pump and sensor.  This works like a charm! 

If you are looking for a great customer service from a Michigan based durable medical equipment (DME) supplier for your Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) supplies, insulin pump supplies, and diabetes testing supplies, contact us today to start the easy enrollment process. We're in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Health Alliance Plan (HAP) of Michigan, Priority Health, and all other major insurances in the state of Michigan. 

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The MAHP in Traverse City & Our Health Plan Partners

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Our booth at the 2018 MAHP Conference.

Our booth at the 2018 MAHP Conference.

Healthy Living Medical Supply recently participated in the Michigan Associate of Health Plans Conference in Traverse City, Michigan, which took place from July 18-July 21. Our team really enjoyed meeting and reconnecting with representatives of health plans we currently serve and others we hope to work with in the future. The Michigan Association of Health Plans if a nonprofit corporation established to promote the interests of member health plans.

Find a list of health insurance plans that we currently accept , including Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and Health Alliance Plan of Michigan (HAP). Or call us at 866.779.8512 for a free insurance verification check to find out about your coverage.

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What We’re Reading: Facing Diabetes on Her Own Terms…from the HAP Blog

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We have been checking out the HAP Balanced Living blog and recently found this awesome article – Facing Diabetes on Her Own Terms: How One Woman Took Control of Her Life. This article is about Shannon, a woman diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, who found a way to manage her disease without medication, through motivation and focus.

Shannon had a family history of diabetes, so when she was diagnosed, she regarded the situation very seriously. She knew that she needed to make changes, and when she had a physically adverse reaction to metformin (a drug used to control blood sugar), she became determined to find an alternative to medication. To learn more about managing diabetes, Shannon took hospital-based classes for people recently diagnosed with the condition. Then, she also joined the diabetes prevention program at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital which provided great support and education.

Shannon also dove into exercise and improved her dietary choices. She started her exercise routine slowly to work around previous injuries, but she kept going. To adjust her diet, she looked at serving sizes and nutrition information about what she was eating. “The changes needed to battle diabetes can be overwhelming if you try to make them all at once,” Shannon explained, “Don’t be so strict that you set yourself up for failure.”

Healthy Living Medical Supply is in network with Health Alliance Plan of Michigan for diabetes testing supplies, insulin pumps, insulin pump supplies, and continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM). If you are a Health Alliance Plan of Michigan member and are looking for diabetes-related supplies delivered to your doorstep with great customer care, give us a call at 866.779.8512 or send us a text message at 248.577.9903 to start the easy enrollment process.

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Koala with Diabetes Benefits from the New Dexcom G6 CGM System

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I absolutely love this news that we found about Quincy. He is a male koala living at the San Diego Zoo, who has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Thanks to CGM technology, his life has dramatically changed for the better.

This article explains that, “Diabetes has rarely been documented in koalas, and animal care experts do not know what may have triggered this condition in Quincy.” As part of his treatment plan, the vets at the San Diego Zoo have teamed up with Dexcom to better manage Quincy’s blood sugar levels through the application of a continuous glucose monitoring system. Quincy is using the new Dexcom G6 CGM system.

Koalas normally sleep during the day and are mainly solitary animals. This system markedly increases Quincy’s quality of life because he can avoid pricks to his ears to check his blood sugar and can be disturbed less often overall. Instead, the sensor and transmitter placed on Quincy send his blood glucose levels in real time to a smart device monitored by his caretakers. Check out a video of Quincy and his vets in action. 

We hope that Quincy's story helps promote a greater awareness of CGM therapy! If you are living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and have commercial or Medicare insurance, you may qualify to begin CGM therapy. Reach out to our team at 866.779.8512 to learn more and start the enrollment process now.

In the News - 670G Receives Pediatric Approval & Tandem's Auto-Suspend-on-Low Technology

We're tracking two big announcements from both Medtronic Diabetes and Tandem Diabetes from this past week. 

The first update comes from Medtronic and is an exciting one for families with children living with Type 1 Diabetes - the 670G closed loop system from Medtronic received clearance from the FDA for use with pediatric patients ages seven and up. This certainly is welcome news for pediatric patients, their care team members, and providers. 

And second, Tandem Diabetes received approval for their auto-suspend-on-low technology from the FDA. While we don't know the full details, it looks like the T:Slim X2 pump, when combined with the Dexcom G6 CGM system, will suspend insulin delivery in advance of a predicted low. 

Both of these exciting updates represent a significant advancement in diabetes technology and great news overall for patients and everyone involved in the diabetes community. 

If you are looking at one of these insulin pumps and/or CGM options, Healthy Living Medical Supply is a great place to start - simply give us a call at 866-779-8512, chat with us live, or leave a message if you're on our site after hours. You may also learn more on our Insulin Pump Therapy page. 

Go local with Healthy Living Medical Supply. Healthy Living Medical Supply is the only Michigan-owned and operated durable medical equipment (DME) supplier that specializes in diabetes. We're able to work with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, Medicare and all major Medicaid plans in the state for insulin pumps, insulin pump supplies, and continuous glucose monitoring systems. 

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Now Shipping: Medtronic Guardian Connect CGM System

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Medtronic's Guardian Connect is composed of three key components: the sensor, a bluetooth transmitter that lasts a year, and a mobile app

Medtronic's Guardian Connect is composed of three key components: the sensor, a bluetooth transmitter that lasts a year, and a mobile app

We're excited to share that Healthy Living Medical Supply is now shipping the Medtronic Guardian Connect CGM system! This is a great technology option for any patient who is taking insulin via injections and who isn't quite ready for an insulin pump. Read more about the Guardian Connect CGM system at the Medtronic website. 

What is CGM? CGM stands for Continuous Glucose Monitoring and is a small, half dollar sized device that goes on your body and measures blood sugar levels every five minutes or roughly 288 times per day. 

What are the benefits of CGM? We've written about this here on our blog before, but in short CGM reduces the number of daily finger sticks while giving patients much greater insight into what is happening with their body's sugar levels. Medtronic Guardian Connect's stand alone CGM system takes readings every five minutes or 288 times throughout the day and night - this is significantly more information than is yielded through finger sticks alone.

What are the top benefits of Medtronic's Guardian Connect CGM System?

1. The data is automatically uploaded directly to the physician's office via Medtronic's CareLink platform. 

2. Predictive alerts for highs and lows are sent out 60 minutes in advance. Predictive alerts are sent out 40 minutes faster than the competition.

3. IBM Watson integration creates actionable trends from user CGM data.

4. Last but not least, Medtronic's Guardian Connect CGM system is significantly less expensive for the patient and health plan in comparison to the competition. Why? Because the transmitter lasts for one year, no receiver is needed, and a month's supply comes with five sensors for a total of 35 days of wear time. This means lower copays for patients, longer sensor wear time and a lower spend for the health plan. 

Most major commercial insurances, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Health Alliance Plan of Michigan (HAP), will pay for CGM. Contact Healthy Living Medical Supply today at 866-779-8512 to learn more and to begin the easy enrollment process.

Michigan Residents: Keep your business local! Healthy Living Medical Supply is the only locally owned and operated diabetes speciality provider in the state of Michigan...and we provide world class customer service!