1. health and fitness

DIABETES NEWS
A SPECIAL NEWSLETTER FOR MVP MEMBERS
Y0051_2485
ISSUE 1, 2015
VISITING YOUR HEALTH CARE TEAM
When you have diabetes, it is important that you get good medical care. Now that it’s clear that
high blood glucose levels play a role in many complications, your doctor’s skill is more vital than
ever. Good care helps you live a full life with as few complications as possible.
The Team Approach
You should be receiving your diabetes care
from a team put together by your doctor.
Because your primary care doctor cannot
be an expert in every area, your team may
include an eye doctor, nurses, and a dietitian.
Depending on any complications you may
have, your doctor may send you to other
specialists as well, such as a foot doctor.
The Goal
Too-high levels of glucose in the blood
are a feature of all forms of diabetes. The
main goal of diabetes treatment is to bring
blood glucose levels as close to normal as
is safely possible. Your doctor will give you
targets that are right for you, depending
on factors, such as how long you have had
diabetes. Most parts of your treatment plan—
measuring glucose levels, taking medication
or insulin shots, exercising, losing weight,
planning meals—are aimed at helping you
reach your target glucose level.
DIABETES AND HEARING
LOSS IN SENIORS
Diabetes and hearing loss are two of America’s
most widespread health concerns. A recent
study found that hearing loss is twice as
common in people with diabetes as it is in
those who don’t have it. Hearing loss typically
happens slowly, so the signs can be hard to
notice. They include:
•Frequently asking others to repeat
themselves
•Trouble following conversations that
involve more than two people
•Thinking that others are mumbling
•Problems hearing in noisy places,
such as restaurants
•Trouble hearing the voices of women
or small children
•Turning up the TV or radio volume
too loud for others nearby
If you suspect a hearing loss, talk to your
primary care doctor. You may then want to
seek help from a hearing specialist, such as
an audiologist. After a full hearing exam,
you’ll know more about any hearing loss
and how you can treat it.
HAVE YOU HAD
IMPORTANT DIABETES
TEST AND EXAMS?
It is important to have certain tests and
exams to help manage your diabetes. They
include regular eye exams, foot exams,
blood pressure screening, and cholesterol
and urine protein tests. Talk to your doctor
about when your next screening is due.
HEALTH CLICKS
MVP Health Care® has online resources to
help you take charge of your health, available
24 hours a day at www.mvphealthcare.com!
Make informed decisions
about your health by using the
Healthwise® Knowledgebase—
our online Health Encyclopedia
QUICK TIPS FOR BEING
PREPARED TO TALK
TO YOUR DOCTOR
Patients who have good relationships with their
doctors are more satisfied with their care and
have better results. Here are some tips to help
you and your doctor become better partners in
improving your health care:
•Write down your questions before your
visit. List the most important ones first to
make sure they get asked and answered.
•Bring a “health history” list with you, and
keep it up to date.
•Always bring any medications you are taking,
including over-the-counter, or a list of those
medications (include when and how often
you take them) and what strength.
•You might want to bring someone along
to help you ask questions and remember
the answers.
•Find more information and printable forms
at www.mvphealthcare.com.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ)
MVP Health Care offers a condition health management
program for members living with diabetes. For more information
or to see if you qualify, call 1-866-942-7966. MVP’s program
is based on guidelines for adult diabetes care developed by
the New York State Diabetes Coalition. These are based on the
American Diabetes Association: A Collaborative Guideline for
the Management of the Adult Patient with Diabetes. Information
in this newsletter does not constitute medical advice. If you have
questions about your health, talk to your doctor.
Health benefit plans are issued or administered by MVP Health Plan, Inc.;
MVP Health Insurance Company of New Hampshire, Inc.; MVP Health
Plan of New Hampshire, Inc.; MVP Select Care, Inc.; MVP Health Services
Corporation, and Hudson Health Plan, Inc., operating subsidiaries of
MVP Health Care, Inc. Not all plans available in all states.
Want to know more about a medical
procedure? Need more information to
make an educated health decision? Curious
about the medications you take every day?
Visit www.mvphealthcare.com and select
Members, then Live Healthy, and then Health
Encyclopedia A to Z—your one-stop resource
for the latest health information. You will find
guides to help you make simple decisions
about whether to call a doctor and what selfcare is best, as well as bigger decisions about
medications, tests, and surgeries. You can
research health questions that are important
to you and your family on any of more than
6,000 health topics and find reliable, objective
answers in our Health Encyclopedia.
Calculate the risks and benefits
of your health habits with our
Health Tools and Calculators
If you think you are ready to make a change in
your health habits, or are looking for resources
to explore healthy ideas that may be right for
you, select any of our interactive health tools
and calculators for quick, personalized results.
Are you ready to quit smoking? Want to learn
tips for managing stress? Curious about how
many calories you burn during your workout?
For answers to these questions and more, visit
www.mvphealthcare.com and select Members,
then Live Healthy, and then Health Tools &
Calculators.
Contact Us
For more information, call 1-866-942-7966
Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:00 pm.
TTY: 1-800-662-1220
WE VALUE YOUR OPINION
Please fill out a brief, anonymous survey at
www.mvplistens.com. We will use this information
to create a better experience for all of our members.
All responses are 100 percent confidential. The
survey only takes a few minutes to complete.
ENJOY EXCLUSIVE MEMBER DISCOUNTS
As an MVP member, you can enjoy savings on a wide range of health and wellness products and
services that can help you live well through our partnership with the ChooseHealthy™ Discount
Network. Go to www.mvphealthcare.com and select Members, then Live Healthy, and then
ChooseHealthy Discounts for more information on:
•Access to participating providers who offer a 25 percent
discount on Chiropractic and Acupuncture Care, Massage
Therapy, or Dietetic Counseling.
•More than 15,000 fitness clubs and exercise centers at
which you can get best pricing and a free trial offer.
•A 40 percent discount on dietary supplements and
fitness products through the ChooseHealthy online store,
plus free shipping on most items.
ChooseHealthy is a discount product of
American Specialty Health Networks,
Inc. The program provides discounted
complementary health care services
from participating providers. You
are required to pay for all services in
full but will receive a discount from
contracted providers. Check your health
plan benefits before using this affinity
program, as those benefits may result in
lower cost to you than using this program.
mvphealthcare.com
625 State Street, PO Box 2207
Schenectady, NY 12301-2207
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