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A recent study from England that was backed up by similar reports from around the world show that those with Type 1 or 2 diabetes have a higher risk of death due to COVID-19 than the rest of the population. Board-certified Internal Medicine physician specializing in Geriatrics Michael Tehrani, MD, treats patients with diabetes through the Embrace Program, which is offered through Brand New Day, a Medicare Advantage prescription health plan available in 12 California counties. He says that the higher mortality rate is due to the diabetic’s difficulty in warding off potentially deadly complications associated with the virus.
“The good news is that the risk is much lower if your diabetes is well-managed,” says Tehrani. “Diabetics who aren’t being vigilant experience fluctuating blood sugars, which leads to myriad medical conditions. And for those with a co-morbidity like heart disease, the stakes are even higher.”
Diabetes occurs when the body does not properly process food. Normally after you eat or drink, the food is turned into glucose (aka, blood sugars) for our bodies to use as energy. The pancreas makes a hormone called insulin that sends glucose into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugars to build up in your blood, leading to serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower-extremity amputations.
To best manage your diabetes, Tehrani suggests the following: 2-4 annual doctor visits; 2 dentist visits per year; yearly foot and eye exams; balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, foods with omega3 fatty acids and nuts with no processed foods; 30 minutes of exercise each day emphasizing endurance, strength, flexibility and balance; maintain a healthy weight; no smoking; and stay vaccinated.
Brand New Day, a Medicare Advantage prescription health plan available in 12 California counties, offers a number of specialty plans in addition to its standard Medicare plan. They include the Embrace Plan for members with heart disease, hypertension and/or diabetes; Bridges Plan for members with dementia and Alzheimer’s; SelectCare Plan for members residing in long-term care (nursing homes) facilities; and Harmony Plan for members with mental illness including major depression, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and paranoid disorder.
For qualifying members, the plans cover transportation to and from medical appointments; vision, dental and hearing aids; 24-hour/day nurse and physician line; and health nurses and life coaches. In addition, members with chronic illnesses are not only treated medically, but in a variety of other ways including education about the member’s chronic or ongoing medical conditions and avoidable risks, nutrition, exercise, self-testing and monitoring, medication adherence to doctor orders, preventive care planning and linkage to community support programs.
Brand New Day offers comprehensive benefit programs designed for its members’ unique healthcare needs. In addition to its Medicare only, Medicare and Medi-Cal members, the plan offers specialized programs for those with ongoing medical conditions including Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Dementia and Mental Illness. It also serves those who live in long-term care facilities. Brand New Day’s personalized approach is designed to keep its members healthy and independent and its team of caring healthcare professionals share one common goal — to improve the overall well-being of each member by offering members “healthcare you can feel good about.”
For more information about Brand New Day, visit BNDHMO.com or call (866) 255-4795.
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Release ID: 88970861