I just finished listening to the president's speech. He promises that health care will be reformed beginning this year. He stated that a large portion of the reform will go toward preventative health.
I was recently invited to give a one hour presentation on how to prevent diabetes. As I sat down to work on the presentation, I drafted an introduction that states "You prevent diabetes the same way you live well with diabetes
-- eat healthy,
--stay active,
--monitor your numbers,
--take your medications (even if it is just a daily vitamin - see previous blog about vitamin D)
--reduce risks (maintaining healthy weight, wearing good shoes, etc)
--healthy coping (stress management)
--problem solving (each individual should be responsible for promoting individual health and not waiting until illness becomes significant and expect the doctor to 'cure' them)
It seems like we should be able to send this message to our legislators and get some of the funds for health care reform directed toward diabetes education. We are well prepared to lead the way. We just need to let them know. As individual Diabetes Educators, we need to support the efforts of our National Association to advocate for the reimbursement of diabetes self management training. Now is the time. Do not remain silent.
Let me know
Brenda
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I’m not one to write on Blogs but I do agree. We need to let the pres know that MDs should not be paid for non standard care and that insurance companies are not giving support for diabetes education – a benefit similar to what Medicare provides. There is less for diet instruction or weight management instruction. The prevention is something we can diabetes educators can do well but the payment and the outcomes need to be defined.
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