Managing and Preventing Diabetes

We can help you live your best life with diabetes

You may have diabetes or high blood sugar, or you may be at risk for developing diabetes. Whatever your current health situation may be, it’s important to take good care of yourself now to help prevent serious health conditions later.

That’s why we offer many free health and wellness programs to help you with everything from managing diet and physical activity to taking control of stress and anxiety. We can work with you to find the programs that are right for you.

Jump to a section:

• $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 medications
• Review your medications from home with a UPMC pharmacist
• Your personal health care team
• Diabetes Prevention Program
• Feel your best with healthy eating
• Exercise can shape your health

$0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 medications

For 2026, the UPMC for Life Complete Care (HMO D-SNP) formulary will have five levels of drug benefits, also referred to as drug tiers. All drugs on Tier 1 and Tier 2 will have a $0 copay. Learn more about drug tiers and see the 2026 UPMC for Life Complete Care formulary.   

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Review your medications from home with a UPMC pharmacist

As a member, you can schedule an online video appointment with a licensed pharmacist at no cost. Your pharmacist will go over each of your medications and answer any questions you may have face-to-face with you. Log into the UPMC Health Plan member site or UPMC Health Plan app to get started.

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Your personal health care team

Improving your health isn’t always easy. You may understand the benefits of eating healthy, staying active, reducing stress, and taking your medications. But you may not know how to do these things in a way that’s best for you. As a member, you have access to our team of health coaches, care managers, and personal counselors. Together, we can help you understand your health and how you can improve it. Learn about how each member of our care team can help.

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Diabetes Prevention Program

Adopt healthier habits and reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes with the Diabetes Prevention Program. This program is free to UPMC for Life members!

This program:

• Meets national quality standards and requirements set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Teaches you how to eat healthy, stay active, reduce stress, and build skills that can help you prevent type 2 diabetes.
• Offers you personalized support from a health coach so you can develop an action plan and meet your specific health goals. You and the other members of the group will be able to share ideas, motivate, and support each other.
• You’ll need to meet certain criteria to sign up for this program. To learn more, call 1-844-822-3367 (TTY: 711) Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Or schedule an appointment to get started.

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Feel your best with healthy eating

Eating the right food can give you more energy, make your brain sharper, and improve your mood. Plant-forward diets are a great way to achieve this. They are even known to help treat and prevent certain health conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.

What does a plant-forward diet consist of?

A plant-forward diet is exactly how it sounds. It’s a way of eating that mostly consists of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. Other things to consider with a plant-forward diet:

• Make meat or seafood a side rather than the main dish. You can still get your needed protein from plant-forward foods.
• Watch your intake of sweets. Fruit is an excellent choice to satisfy this craving.
• Just like with any diet, make sure you’re staying hydrated! Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water each day.

You’ll want to talk to your doctor about what you should and should not eat based on your personal health needs. Your doctor or a health coach can even help you create a plan to improve your nutrition and stick to healthy habits.

Looking for quick and easy healthy recipes?

You can find healthy recipes at UPMC MyHealth Matters.

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Exercise can shape your health

Not only can exercise shape your body, but it can also shape your overall health. We encourage you to talk to your doctor or health coach about the type of exercises you should be doing and how much time you should spend exercising each week.

Here are some benefits of exercising:

• It lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol.
• It reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke.
• It burns calories to help you reach or maintain a healthy weight.
• It helps to relieve stress and ease signs of depression.
• It improves your balance to help you avoid falls.

Tips for being safe when you exercise:

• Stretch before and after you exercise to prevent an injury.
• Pay attention to your surroundings so you don’t trip or fall.
• Stay hydrated and carry snacks with you. Your blood sugar may drop while you are exercising.
• Use the right footwear and equipment.
• Pay attention to your body. If you notice that you’re having trouble exercising, talk to your doctor.

The SilverSneakers^® fitness program makes it easy to stay active in the way that works best for you. This program is free for our UPMC for Life members. Learn more about Silversneakers.