Cost Of Insulin May Soon Be Capped By Law : Great News For Diabetics!

A blood glucose level chart showing the optimal levels.


The cost of prescription drugs has gotten so out of hand that regulators and legislators are having to step in and try to remedy the situation.  The latest effort comes from the House of Representatives, which recently passed a bill which would cap the cost of insulin.  The bill, which passed by a vote of 232-193 would cap the cost of insulin for both those on Medicare and those with private insurance at just $35 per month.  A similar bill passed the House last year but died in the Senate.  Democratic legislators are hoping to work out a compromise with Republicans to get it passed in the Senate.

 

Senior Obesity A Big Problem For Seniors

A person measuring their belly with a tape measure.


Obesity is a big problem in America, with 74% of the population overweight.  As you grow older, you likely will become more sedentary which can result in senior obesity.  This can create a domino effect of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and a high risk of stroke.  Lisa Young, a registered dietitian nutritionist and the author of “Finally Full, Finally Slim†recently gave a speech at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo has a number of tips to help you keep the weight off.  One of the more helpful ones is “Mindful eating is a tool to help with weight loss.  It helps you focus on your hunger and fullness levels, so you are eating because you are hungry, and you want that food – not because a big portion is in front of you.â€Â  Mindful or Intuitive eating can also help you ask yourself, “Do I like this food†or “Am I really hungry?’  This ultimately helps you eat a smaller portion and can lead to weight loss.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/10/health/lose-weight-healthfully-mindful-eating-wellness/index.html

Overweight Americans Should Be Screened For Diabetes At The Age Of 35

A person holding a hamburger in their hand.


Nearly one in seven Americans now have diabetes, a new record for the U.S.  It was a serious disease before COVID-19 and even more so now as symptoms could be more severe and the risk of death higher for those diabetics contracting the coronavirus.  Obesity in America has become a growing problem in recent years, as more of us develop a diet high in processed foods, which can be high in sugar and salt.  The popularity of fast food hasn’t helped either.  New guidelines have been issued by an expert task force (The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force) that were published in the journal JAMA suggesting that obese Americans and those with abnormally high blood sugar levels ought to be tested for diabetes starting at the young age of just 35.  That means that 40% of the adult population ought to be screened.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/24/health/diabetes-weight-screening.html?campaign_id=34&emc=edit_sc_20210831&instance_id=39237&nl=science-times&regi_id=52105769&segment_id=67677&te=1&user_id=7052b81671c57203c64c377c7522baa7

Salinas, CA Join CHOMP’s Exercise Smart For Diabetes Management Class

Two women smiling for a picture in front of trees.


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a number of helpful classes, with one focusing on how to exercise to keep your Diabetes under control.  Learn how exercise can aid in diabetes management and get tips for safe, effective exercise.  The information you receive will include an overview of diabetes and special considerations for exercise for those with diabetes.  To register, go to www.chomp.org/classes.

Pebble Beach, CA Join CHOMP’s Exercise Smart For Diabetes Management Class

A farmers market with fresh vegetables and fruits.


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a number of helpful classes, with one focusing on how to exercise to keep your Diabetes under control.  Learn how exercise can aid in diabetes management and get tips for safe, effective exercise.  The information you receive will include an overview of diabetes and special considerations for exercise for those with diabetes.  To register, go to www.chomp.org/classes.

Salinas, CA Check Out CHOMP’s Diabetes Self-Management Series

A blood glucose level chart showing the optimal levels.


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a great Diabetes Self-Management Series and the cost of the sessions may be covered by Medicare if you have a referral from a physician.  Learn more about your diabetes and the day-to-day skills needed to live a healthy life and prevent complications.  Registered dieticians and nurses will hold one-on-one sessions with you and talk about monitoring your blood sugar levels, the best diet, medication and non-medication options to keep you healthy.  Call 649-7220 for more information.

https://www.montagehealth.org/care-treatment/diabetes/

Pacific Grove, CA Join CHOMP’s Exercise Smart For Diabetes Management Class


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a number of helpful classes, with one focusing on how to exercise to keep your Diabetes under control.  Learn how exercise can aid in diabetes management and get tips for safe, effective exercise.  The information you receive will include an overview of diabetes and special considerations for exercise for those with diabetes.  To register, go to www.chomp.org/classes.

Salinas, CA Check Out CHOMP’s Diabetes Self-Management Series

A blood glucose level chart showing the optimal levels.


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a great Diabetes Self-Management Series and the cost of the sessions may be covered by Medicare if you have a referral from a physician.  Learn more about your diabetes and the day-to-day skills needed to live a healthy life and prevent complications.  Registered dieticians and nurses will hold one-on-one sessions with you and talk about monitoring your blood sugar levels, the best diet, medication and non-medication options to keep you healthy.  Call 649-7220 for more information.

https://www.montagehealth.org/care-treatment/diabetes/

Carmel, CA Check Out CHOMP’s Diabetes Self-Management Series

A blood glucose level chart showing the optimal levels.


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a great Diabetes Self-Management Series and the cost of the sessions may be covered by Medicare if you have a referral from a physician.  Learn more about your diabetes and the day-to-day skills needed to live a healthy life and prevent complications.  Registered dieticians and nurses will hold one-on-one sessions with you and talk about monitoring your blood sugar levels, the best diet, medication and non-medication options to keep you healthy.  Call 649-7220 for more information.

https://www.montagehealth.org/care-treatment/diabetes/

 

Pre-Diabetes Doesn’t Always Develop Into Full Blown Diabetes

Three older women are holding pink dumbbells.


A recent study which was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine which studied 3,400 older Americans with prediabetes found that only 8% developed diabetes over the next six years.  “We found that, in older adults, prediabetes was not a robust predictor of progression to diabetes,†says lead study author Mary Rooney, a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 47% of Americans over the age of 65 had blood sugar levels that are higher than normal (AARP Bulletin April 21, page 4)