HEALTH MATTERS
Three Questions Every Senior with Diabetes Should Ask
Article by American Diabetes Association
(BPT) - If you're a senior with diabetes, you're not alone. The statistics are eye opening - more than 25% of Americans age 65 and older have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. What's more, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports diabetes as the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. If you're a senior and have diabetes or help care for a loved one with diabetes, you probably have a lot of questions. Thankfully, technology has advanced incredibly over the last decade, and can now change how people manage diabetes for the better. Building a strong relationship with your doctor is one of the best things you can do to help manage your diabetes and stay healthy. Be sure to keep an open dialogue and come with questions before any appointments. To get you started, here are three important questions you should ask your doctor.
1) What is continuous glucose monitoring and how can it help me?
People with diabetes who take insulin must monitor their blood glucose levels frequently. Uncontrolled glucose can cause health complications and even death. The traditional standard-of-care for glucose monitoring has been a blood glucose meter, which is painful and time
consuming, as patients must test their blood multiple times throughout the day.
A continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system can help people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes to track glucose levels on a continuous basis. Unlike blood glucose meters, CGMs can help eliminate painful fingerpricks and provide vital health information. CGMs are discreet and easy to use, and relay a user's glucose levels instantly to a compatible smart device or dedicated receiver, providing the direction and rate of glucose change with the touch or scan of a screen. The Dexcom G6 CGM, which is reimbursed by Medicare for eligible patients, also has an app option that gives patients the ability to share glucose information with up to 10 people who can view it through a separate Follow app.
"A continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system can help people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes to track glucose levels on a continuous basis."