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Do you ever feel that the demands of controlling your diabetes are overwhelming? You might think:
- I can’t eat what I want.
- I am afraid to see my doctor because I haven’t lost weight or followed my diet.
- I can’t check my blood sugar all the time.
- I keep forgetting to take my medication.
- I know I should lose weight but it’s just too difficult.
- I don’t have time to exercise.
- I don’t want to take my insulin shots.
Understanding Diabetes
UPMC Health Plan has a comprehensive program to help you manage your diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 most often appears during childhood or adolescence.
- Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and physical inactivity, accounts for about 95% of diabetes cases and most often appears in people older than 40.
Consider these facts about diabetes:
- Some 20.8 million people in the United States (roughly 7% of the population) have diabetes.
- An estimated 6.2 million people do not know they have the disease.
- When diabetes is not controlled, glucose and fats remain in the blood and, over time, damage vital organs.
- Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, pregnancy complications, lower-extremity amputations, and deaths related to flu and pneumonia.
The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors, including obesity and lack of exercise, play a role.
The good news: in most cases, diabetes can be controlled with treatment, and people with diabetes can often live a normal and active life.
Program Overview
Our diabetes program strives to ensure that members with diabetes have regular physician visits, consistently use prescribed medication, and make the necessary lifestyle changes to keep their diabetes in control.
Enrolled members receive reminders for annual checkups, the MyHealth Insight Newsletter, postcard reminders for flu and pneumonia vaccinations, and information about how to access MyHealth OnLine, our 24/7 online member resource. Through this online self-service center, members have access to health-related educational materials, resources, and interactive tools to help them manage their condition.
If your condition requires it, you will receive all of the benefits listed above, plus monthly, weekly, or as-needed telephone calls from your personal care manager to monitor your progress. You will also receive additional educational materials, a welcome packet, a quality-of-life survey, and a satisfaction survey.
Take Charge of Your Diabetes Health
Are you ready to take action? Your personal care manager can help you:
- Identify the goals that are important to you.
- Create a plan to achieve the goals set by you and your doctor.
- Attain your goals by providing education and resources that support your plan.
- Get answers about your health.
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