Digital Event

In this presentation we will give you an overview of diabetes. Ways to live with it and how to prevent it. So let’s get started.

We’ll structure our presentation today to let you: 1 - Learn about the definition of diabetes and how it is diagnosed.  2 - Learn about prevention tips, risk factors and how it can be prevented.  3 - Learn about how to live and manage diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease that leads to too much sugar, or glucose, in your blood.

Glucose is an important source of energy for your muscles, tissues, and brain but too much of it can lead to serious health problems.

The hemoglobin A1c test can tell your average blood sugar over a period of two to three months. This test is used to both diagnose diabetes as well as measure how well a diabetic patient’s condition is being managed.

An A1c of 5.7 percent or lower is considered normal, however, your provider may give you a different goal.

Diabetes is widespread. The American Diabetes Association, or A-D-A, reports that about 34 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and about 88 million have prediabetes.

People with diabetes spend almost two-and-a-half times more on health care costs. That’s $2.50 for every dollar spent by someone without diabetes. In 2017 diabetes cost the U.S. economy $327 billion.

Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputation, and adult blindness, which is why it is so important to prevent the condition or properly maintain it if you are diagnosed.

There are some personal factors that can put you at higher risk for developing diabetes.

Family history and age are not risk factors that you can make an impact on, but being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle are two that can be improved upon.

Some tips for preventing diabetes include getting more physical activity; both exercise and resistance training help lower your blood sugar and improve your body’s use of insulin which keeps blood sugar in a normal range.

Eating foods high in fiber like fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and nuts; fiber improves blood sugar control, lowers your risk for heart disease, and promotes weight loss.

Eat plenty of whole grains as they help maintain blood sugar levels.  A modest amount of weight loss can make a huge impact on reducing your risk for diabetes. One study showed that a seven percent decrease in body weight resulted in cutting diabetes risk by 60 percent.

Trendy diets might help you lose weight a first, but long-term effects are not known for most of them. Instead, focus on making healthy, sustainable choices like portion control that will help you gradually lose weight.

Medicare offers a diabetes prevention program, or DPP, that has been proven to help prevent type 2 diabetes.

There are certain conditions that must be met to participate: you have an A1c between 5.7 and 6.4%, a fasting glucose of 110-125, or a 2-hour oral glucose test result of 140-199 in the last 12 months; you have a BMI of 25 or more;  you’ve never been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes or end-stage renal disease; you’ve never before participated in this program; and you have a written order from your provider.

The DPP is offered in a group setting, with some locations offering virtual meetings, over a six-month period.

You will receive training to make realistic, lasting behavior changes, physical activity tips, weight control strategies, a motivating behavior coach, and group support.

Over the next six months you will have monthly follow-up sessions to ensure you are maintaining healthy habits. Depending on your weight loss needs, you may meet criteria for an additional 12 months of follow-up sessions.

You can visit medicare.gov to find a list of DPP providers. Sentara hospitals also offer this service; the location listings can be found by visiting Sentara.com and typing “diabetes” in the search bar.

You may have already been diagnosed with diabetes: here are some helpful, healthy living reminders.

Proper nutrition is one of the key components to managing diabetes.

Work with your provider, a nutritionist, or a diabetes educator to develop a meal plan that incorporates foods that are lower in calories, saturated fats, trans fats, sugar and salt.

Set a goal to become more physically active; if you are not currently physically active, talk to your provider about how to start. Brisk walking and swimming are great ways to get more movement in your day…aim for 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.

Seeing your doctor at least twice a year can allow your provider to identify potential complications before they become problematic for you.

It’s important to have your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol monitored. Your feet should be checked for nerve damage and ulcers. You should also have an eye exam once a year. Even if you are feeling good, it is important to take your medicine the way your provider has prescribed it.

If you cannot afford your medications or experience side effects, please communicate these with your provider. It is important to monitor your blood glucose so you can make informed decisions regarding food, physical activity and medications.

Keep a record of your blood glucose levels to share with your provider. Blood sugar levels go up when you are feeling stressed or anxious. Find ways to relieve stress, such as yoga, gardening, walking, deep breathing, or other relaxing hobbies.

Medicare helps pay for diabetes self-management training when you have been diagnosed with diabetes.

A written order from your provider is required.

This program consists of one individual training session and nine group training sessions.

The program teaches you how to cope with your condition, tips for eating healthy, being active, monitoring blood sugar, taking your medicine and reducing risks associated with diabetes.

Some patients are eligible for medical nutrition therapy training; your provider can help you understand if you qualify.

A diabetes education program can be found by searching on the American Diabetes Association website.

Your Optima Care Manager is equipped to help you navigate resources and programs to help you manage your diabetes. Other resources include your local Agency on Aging, found at vaaaa.org, hospital and American Diabetes Association support groups, and reliable, trustworthy websites such as CDC.gov, diabetes.org, and the Mayo Clinic. Always use caution and when getting information from websites and never provide personal or credit card information.

1-800-927-6048 (TTY Call 711)

8 a.m. - 8 p.m.  |  Monday – Sunday  |  October 1 – March 31

8 a.m. - 8 p.m.  |  Monday – Friday  |  April 1 – September 30

Thank you for choosing Optima Health!

In this presentation, we will give you a full overview of fall prevention. Let’s get started.

We’ll structure our presentation today to let you: 1 - Learn if you might be at higher risk of falling. 2 - Learn risk factors for falling. 3 - Learn how you can prevent falls.  4 - And how to do the chair rise exercise to help prevent falls.

One in Four older adults fall each year, but less than half of them will share that information with their medical provider. This is significant because once you experience a fall, you are more likely to fall again later. Falls are responsible for 95% of hip fractures and the most common cause of traumatic brain injury. Three million older adults find themselves being treated emergently for fall-related injuries each year.

Take a moment to think about the following questions:  Have you fallen in the past year?  Do you use or have been advised to use a cane or walker to get around safely?  Do you sometimes feel unsteady when walking? Do you steady yourself by holding onto furniture when walking at home? Are you worried about falling? Do you need to push with your hands to stand from a chair?  Do you have any trouble stepping up onto a curb?  Do you often have to rush to the toilet?  Have you lost some feeling in your feet? Do you take medicine that sometimes makes you feel lightheaded or more tired than usual?  Do you take medicine to help you sleep or improve your mood?  Do you often feel sad or depressed?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be at higher risk for falls. It is recommended that you contact your medical provider and discuss your risk of falls with him or her. Your provider can help you put a plan in place to prevent falls and connect you to valuable fall prevention resources.

Do you often have to rush to the toilet?  Have you lost some feeling in your feet?  Do you take medicine that sometimes makes you feel lightheaded or more tired than usual?  Do you take medicine to help you sleep or improve your mood?  Do you often feel sad or depressed? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be at higher risk for falls.

It is recommended that you contact your medical provider and discuss your risk of falls with him or her. Your provider can help you put a plan in place to prevent falls and connect you to valuable fall prevention resources.

There are risk factors that might make you more likely to experience a fall. Biological factors include weakened muscles, medication side effects, chronic health conditions, and vision problems.

Some medications, including over the counter and herbal supplements, that lead to a higher risk of falls are seizure medications, medications affecting your mood, pain medications, medications used to make you sleepy, allergy medications and blood pressure medications.

Lack of activity and risky behaviors are behavior related fall risk factors. Environmental fall hazards such as clutter, cords, rugs and lack of stair railings can easily be remedied.

There are a number of actions you can take to prevent falls. Wearing sensible shoes while walking can give you a stable surface and improve your balance. Avoid wearing loose fitting socks and slippers.

Remove environmental trip hazards like rugs, cords, and unnecessary furniture. Use a nonslip mat in the bathtub or shower and install grab bars if able.

Make sure all rooms and hallways have adequate lighting. Stairs should have handrails.  If your provider recommends a cane, walker, or other assistive device, learn how to use it properly and always use it when walking.

Become knowledgeable about your medications, vitamins, and supplements and any side effects that might make you more likely to fall.

Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries, or STEADI, is an initiative developed by the CDC to prevent falls in older adults.

When used by a healthcare provider, STEADI can help him or her screen patients for fall risk, identify risk factors that can be changed, and intervene by providing effective strategies to reduce the risk of a fall happening. According to STEADI, there are four things you can do to help prevent falls:

Speak up and talk to your provider about your personal fall risks, how to prevent falls, and medication side effects that might make you more likely to fall; keep moving by following an exercise program to improve your strength and balance; get an annual eye exam and update your glasses as necessary so you can see clearly; make your home safer by removing clutter and trip hazards.

You can visit the STEADI website at cdc.gov/steadi for more information.

This Chair Rise Exercise is recommended by the CDC, Johns Hopkins University, and other medical experts to prevent falls by strengthening leg muscles. When you first try this exercise you may been to use your hands to push and support yourself.

Your goal should be to do this exercise without using your hands.

Let’s try doing one together: while sitting on a sturdy chair, scoot your bottom towards the front edge, place your feel flat on the floor about shoulder width apart; rest your hands on either side of you, keeping your back and neck straight; breathe in slowly and lean forward to feel your weight on your feet; exhale and stand slowly using your hands as little as possible; take a full breath in and out; inhale as you slowly sit with controlled movement.

repeat 10-15 times; if you cannot complete the exercise 10 times, make it a goal to reach that point. If you found this exercise helpful and would like similar exercises scroll down to the bottom of the web page to find more resources.  We have a video on chair yoga that some may find helpful or a goal to work up to.

The long-arc quad exercise is designed to strengthen the quad muscles in the front of thigh. The goal is to be able to complete 8-12 repetitions per leg. If you cannot do eight repetitions at the start, begin with one or two and work your way up to eight. To do this exercise, you will sit in a chair with both knees bent to 90-degrees; lift and straighten one leg, without locking the knee.

Count to 5. Return that leg to the starting position. Perform the exercise 8-12 times, as you are able, Switch sides and do the same on the other leg.

Now that you have viewed our presentation, you might still have some questions. We encourage you to reach out to the Optima Health member services team to help you:

1-800-927-6048 (TTY Call 711)

8 a.m. - 8 p.m.  |  Monday – Sunday  |  October 1 – March 31

8 a.m. - 8 p.m.  |  Monday – Friday  |  April 1 – September 30

Thank you for choosing Optima Health!

These are unusual times and we wish we could be with you, doing these sessions in person. We’ve been working extra hard to bring you a great virtual experience. Like many, we are using new tools and technology to connect with you.

Today, we will give you a overview of medication and give you resources that may be helpful as an Optima Health member. So let’s get started.

We’ll structure our presentation today to let you: 1 - Learn what an Adverse drug event is.  2 - Learn how to prevent adverse events from happening to you.  3 - Get to know your medication.  4 - And what medication adherence is.

An adverse drug event, or ADE is harm caused by the use of a medication, including, but not limited to, allergic reactions, side effects, overmedication, and medication errors. Many ADEs can be tied to human error or the complexities of managing multiple health conditions.

An example of an ADE is when an individual is taking his blood pressure medication as prescribed, but it lowers his blood pressure too much and upon standing, he gets dizzy and weak.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 82% of adults take at least one medication and 29% take five or more medications. People typically take more medications as they age, which increases their risk of experiencing an adverse drug event.

Each year, approximately 1.3 million emergency department visits and 350,000 hospitalizations occur as the result of ADEs. Of those 350,000 admissions, 40% are attributed to blood thinners, diabetes medications, seizure medications, opioids and heart medications.

Adults aged 65 and older experience more than twice as many emergency visits than those younger than them. Most of these visits are related to just a few types of medications. You can help protect yourself by following some of these guidelines.

Some medications require monitoring. Your doctor will let you know when you are on one of these types of medications and will provide directions on how to complete the necessary testing. It is very important to ensure you complete all testing on time to prevent harm from your medications.

Make sure anyone prescribing a medication has an updated list of your current medications. It’s a good idea to take your prescription bottles with you to your appointments so the provider can see exactly what you are taking. An updated wallet card listing your medications and doses is another great way to make sure your providers are aware of all of your medications. This is very important to prevent overmedicating yourself. If you are taking opioids, or narcotics, or other controlled medications, it is very important to take them as prescribed.

Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria but cannot kill viruses. Most mild illnesses such as colds, sore throats, coughs, and runny noses are caused by viruses which means antibiotics will not treat them or make you feel better. Take all of your antibiotics when they are prescribed, even if you are feeling better. Antibiotics should only be taken when a health care provider prescribes them; antibiotics should never be saved and then taken at a later time.

It is important to know as much as you can about each medication you are taking.

Always know the name and strength of your medication so you can communicate this with others if needed.

You should be aware of how often your medications need to be taken. Use an alarm or timer to ensure you don’t miss any doses. And if you do miss a dose, you should know what to do.

Why are you taking that medication? Make sure any medications you are taking meet your needs…if there is a question if you should be taking a medication, call your provider right away.

Side effects from medications can range from mild to severe. If you have a mild side effect, let your prescribing provider know. If the side effect is severe, notify your provider right away. For life-threatening reactions to medications, such as difficulty breathing or unconsciousness, call 911.

Always let your provider know if you have an allergy or sensitivity to a medications. Being aware of medication interactions can help you identify a potential harmful situation with your medications.  Always read the prescription information sheet and warnings on your bottles or boxes. If you have medication questions, contact your prescribing provider or pharmacist.

Always, always check your medications when you receive them from the pharmacy or mail order service. If something doesn’t seem right, contact the pharmacy right away. Don’t take the medications until you are sure they are correct for you.

The bathroom is the worst place to store medications because of temperature fluctuations and humidity. Find a storage area that’s room temperature, not humid, out of the sun, and a place you can remember.

There are many reasons you may not want to or feel you can’t take your medications. Your medications should be a priority, though. If cost is a concern, please speak with your provider, care manager, or pharmacist as they may be able to help find less costly alternatives or ways to decrease your out of pocket costs.

Some individuals have difficulty getting to the pharmacy to pick up their medications. If this is the case, see if your pharmacy has a delivery option. Another option is to participate in a prescription by mail program, such as the one offered by Optima. You may also see a cost savings by using a mail order services and getting your medications every 90 days instead of every 30. Call Member Services or visit the website for more information.

Some side effects can be mild and tolerable while others can make you not want to take your medication as prescribed. If you are experiencing side effects to a medication, let your provider know so he or she can provide a solution. It’s hard to build a routine…but being consistent is the key to long-term success.

Some tips for establishing a solid medication routine include using a pill box, using alarms or written schedules or checklists, and keeping all of your medications in one place. We all have days where we don’t feel like doing what we are supposed to do, however, taking care of your self, should always be a priority and this includes taking your medications as prescribed.

If you have difficulty with having to take medications multiple times a day or a certain times of the day, speak to your provider; he or she may be able to offer an extended release or alternate schedule.

We can’t always feel our medications working and sometimes it can feel like they aren’t doing anything to improve our condition. If you are feeling this way, speak to your provider. Don’t just stop taking your medication as this can lead to potentially serious consequences.

Now that you have viewed our presentation, you might still have some questions. We encourage you to reach out to the Optima Medicare member services team to help you:

1-800-927-6048 (TTY Call 711)

8 a.m. - 8 p.m.  |  Monday – Sunday  |  October 1 – March 31

8 a.m. - 8 p.m.  |  Monday – Friday  |  April 1 – September 30

Thank you for choosing Optima Health!