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Archive for the ‘Diabetes In the News’ Category

Diabetes Education and Prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013. The campaign calls on all those responsible for diabetes care to understand diabetes and take control. For people with diabetes, this is a message about empowerment through education. For governments, it is a call to implement effective strategies and policies for the prevention and management of diabetes to safeguard the health of their citizens with and at risk of diabetes. For healthcare professionals, it is a call to improve knowledge so that evidence-based recommendations are put into practice. For the general public, it is a call to understand the serious impact of diabetes and know, where possible, how to avoid or delay diabetes and its complications. The key messages of the campaign are:

• Know the diabetes risks and know the warning signs
• Know how to respond to diabetes and who to turn to
• Know how to manage diabetes and take control

How can you help?  It is easy to get involved – spread the word, offer financial, support, or even purchase an attractive blue candle to burn symbolizing the solidiarity among the diabetes community on World Diabetes Day.

Visit WorldDiabetesDay.org to learn more.

If you cannot afford CGMS, you might consider a diabetes alert service dog. Properly trained service animals can smell changes in blood sugar and alert to potential problems. Some dogs only detect low blood sugar, while others can detect both high and lows – some will even react to any sudden changes, too.

The IRS even allows for many approved costs associated with obtaining and providing care for a certified service animal as a deduction along the same lines as traditional medical expenses. According to an article in the New York Times online Health section:

Service dog expenses are medical costs approved by the Internal Revenue Service, and Ms. O’Connor had filed similar expenses under her flexible spending plan in the past without problem.

There are only a handful of organizations in the U.S. that train dogs for diabetes, and the services and costs vary considerably. Still, if you our your child does now wish to go the CGMS route, and loves dogs, it is something worth looking into.

Walecia Konrad. An Aid for the Disabled, Companion, and Nice and Furry. The New York Times Health. August 21, 2009.

Several Michigan health organizations are offering free resources and assistance to people with diabetes who are unemployed or without health insurance.

During the economic downturn, the Michigan Diabetes Outreach Network, Michigan Department of Community Health and Diabetes Partners in Action Coalition have identified resources to assist those without jobs, health insurance or who are facing difficult times managing their diabetes.

For help locating diabetes resources in Michigan, read, Organizations help those with diabetes during financial recession; Sourcenewspapers.com; August 16, 2009.

Eye Medication Assistance

Eye Research Foundation volunteers can help residents in signing up for drug assistance from many ophthalmic drug manufacturers. This may help reduce the cost of eye medications to little or nothing.

Call (772) 287-9000 for more information.

Eye Screenings

Free initial eye screenings are available at Diabetes Eye and Macular Degeneration Institute for patients who are diabetic, or 50 and older.

Call (772) 220-7490 to schedule an appointment at 401 E. Osceola St., Suite 200A, Stuart.

Blood Pressure Screenings

Blood-pressure checks are offered free from 11 a.m. to noon on the first and third Thursdays of each month at HarborPlace, 3700 S.E. Jennings Road, Port St. Lucie. Call (772) 337-4330 for directions or more information.

Support Group for Patients with Peripheral Neuropathy

More than 20 million Americans, young and old, suffer with peripheral neuropathy, a chronic, debilitating disease resulting from injury to the peripheral nerves. Most forms cannot be cured but, if diagnosed early, can be controlled.

A local peripheral neuropathy support group meets the second Wednesday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hospice Treasure Coast, 1201 S.E. Indian St., Stuart. For information, call Doris Thurston at (772) 283-5137.

More information on the web.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has agreed to repay more than $500 million to people whose benefits have been withheld since Jan. 1, 2007, because their names and birth dates matched those of people with arrest warrants.

Often the warrants involved traffic or other minor infractions, and sometimes were for completely different people with the same name.

The class action lawsuit, Martinez v. Astrue, settled last week by U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken, in Oakland, Calif., will assist the 200,000 people. The agreement not only ordered restitution for 80,000 people wrongfully denied benefits, but it also enabled another 120,000 individuals who were refused assistance from 2000-2006 to reapply for help or ask for back payments.

Source:  New America Media. August 19, 2009.