Perspective               

Diabetes Self-Management Training

Diabetes is highly prevalent among older people with Medicare. In fact, national data indicates that diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in America. If you are a diabetic with Medicare, you probably know that managing this disease is important to your health and well-being. Learning how to care for your diabetes, however, can be a difficult task. Fortunately, in early March, Medicare will cover diabetes self-management training when given by qualified providers.

Medicare self-management training is an interactive process involving diabetics with Medicare and their doctors or instructors that provides patients with the knowledge and skills needed to care for themselves properly and manage their diabetes. To qualify for the training program, you must be recently diagnosed with diabetes, or not have received training at the time of diagnosis, or be at significant risk for complications from the disease. You must also get the training from a program that is approved by the Health Care Financing Administration, the government agency that runs Medicare. So far, there are over 800 diabetes training programs across the country that meet the required quality standards. To find a qualifying program, contact your local Medicare carrier. The number is listed in Medicare & You.

If you are an older or disabled American with diabetes, call 1-800-MEDICARE to find out more about the diabetes self-management program or to order free publications on Medicare coverage of diabetes. The program should provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to care for yourself, to manage diabetic crises, and to help you live a longer and better life.

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