Seniors: May Qualify for Free Diabetes Prevention Program

Millions of Medicare beneficiaries can now receive free coverage for a comprehensive Diabetes Prevention Program, effective April 1, 2018.

This new program, MDPP for short, is targeted at Medicare beneficiaries who have prediabetes - an elevated blood sugar level that places them at risk for developing type 2 diabetes - in order to delay or prevent the onset of diabetes and prevent more serious and costly medical problems in the future.

Type 2 diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure and amputation. It is also associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

"Ninety percent of people with prediabetes are unaware they have it and this new benefit provides a great incentive for everyone 65 or older to get screened by their healthcare providers," said Kathleen Stanley, a spokesperson for the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Studies show that participation in these programs reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% overall, and by 71% in those 60 and older, according to the association.

If you have prediabetes, the program will provide you with a 12-month series of classes and personalized coaching sessions to help you with the following activities:

• Dietary changes
• Shopping and cooking tips for healthy weight loss
• Increasing your physical activity
• Tracking activity levels
• Tracking foods, especially carbs
• Weight loss strategies
• Maintaining heart heath
• Stress reduction and management
• Mental health
• Coping with triggers
• Time management and fitness
• Diabetes prevention and detection

If you meet weight loss and attendance goals, you'll be eligible for an additional 12 months of ongoing maintenance coaching sessions.

The program is free to all eligible Medicare beneficiaries.

Eligibility for MDPP

Medicare will cover the MDPP if you meet the following criteria:

• You are enrolled in Medicare Part B.
• You have a body mass index of at least 25, or at least 23 if you self-identify as Asian.
• You meet one of these three blood-check criteria within 12 months of the first core session:
  • A1C value between 5.4 and 6.1%
  • Fasting plasma glucose of 110 to 125mg/dl
  • 2-hour plasma glucose of 140 to 199mg/dl
  • No previous diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes (other than gestational)
  • You do not have end-stage renal disease.  

Nearly half of all senior citizens in America have prediabetes. Left unmanaged, the condition may evolve into type 2 diabetes, and leave victims at higher risk of heart disease and strokes.

You do not need a referral from a physician to participate in the MDPP.

How to lower risk of developing type 2 diabetesMeanwhile, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

1.)   Get screened. 86% of prediabetics are unaware of type 2 diabetes.

2.)   Stay active. Go walking, or do weightlifting. Play golf or tennis, or take advantage of the Silver Sneakers program - a Medicare program that helps beneficiaries with discounted fitness club memberships and classes.

3.)   Limit sugar and starchy foods like breads, white rice and potatoes.

4.)   Limit alcohol consumption.

5.)   Explore lower-carb diets, such as the Mediterranean, South Beach or DASH diets.

6.)   Get your weight under control. If you can lose 5-10% of your body mass, you can reduce your chances of developing the deadly disease by 58%. Even losing just 5% of your weight (10 pounds for a 200-pound individual) brings important and measurable health benefits.

To find a class near you, visit the National Diabetes Prevention Program page on the Centers for Disease Control website, www.cdc.gov.

For more information, feel free to Contact Neptune Financial to schedule an appointment.

Basic Understanding

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