Medicare Preventive Services
Diabetes Self-Management Training
Many adults, diagnosed during childhood or early adulthood with Type 1 (juvenile-onset) diabetes, have been dealing with the condition most of their lives.
They’ve dealt with the symptoms—thirst and hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, loss of feeling in the feet, and more—and gotten accustomed to the daily injections, careful diet, and frequent monitoring normally associated with treatment of Type 1 diabetes.
Other adults—those with Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes—may have no family history of diabetes, and were diagnosed with the condition much later in life. In many cases, diagnosis came as a result of Medicare-covered screening, and early detection made it a lot easier to make healthy changes and necessary adjustments to help minimize the effects of diabetes.
Diabetes
Self-management is the key to coping with diabetes. Eating a healthy diet, controlling your weight, and exercising regularly can help minimize the negative effects of this disease. It’s also important to learn how to monitor your condition and make necessary adjustments to help deal with the elevated sugar level in your blood.
Diabetes Self-Management Training
If you’re diabetic, Medicare covers a self-management training program to help you cope with and manage diabetes. Training may include tips for healthy eating, staying active, monitoring your condition, taking your medication, and reducing the risk of complications.
To receive Medicare-covered diabetes self-management training, you must have diabetes and a written order from your doctor or other health care provider. You will pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible applies.
Self-management training is a great start, but once you’ve learned how to stay on top of your condition, it’s important to keep informed. The American Diabetes Association website is a great source of information on living successfully with diabetes.
Many people diagnosed with diabetes make lifestyle changes that result in their feeling better and healthier than before they learned they were diabetic or at risk of developing diabetes. Self-monitoring is an important part of making this happen.
Whether you’re enrolled in Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B), Medicare Advantage, or Medigap, Medicare can go a long way toward providing the preventive care you need to maintain your good health—if you have the experience and knowledge to take advantage of it.
Contact MedicareMall now and let us save you money and lead you with confidence through the Medicare maze!