OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2014       
INDUSTRY NEWS                         

November is

American Diabetes Month

 

Educate yourself and those around you

for better health

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. Here are the troubling statistics: One in 12 Americans has diabetes-- more than 25 million people; 79 million adults in the U.S. are at risk of developing type two diabetes; 80 percent of people with type two diabetes are overweight, and the prevalence of overweight Americans is on the rise. If uncontrolled, diabetes can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems. 

There is a bright side to the statistics, however-- the correlation between healthy behaviors and either controlling or preventing diabetes is very strong. People who are at high risk for type two diabetes can lower this risk by more than half if they make healthy changes, including eating healthy, increasing physical activity, and losing weight.

Diabetes Types

 

Type One

Five to 10 percent of those diagnosed with diabetes have type one diabetes. This type is often called called "juvenile diabetes" or "insulin-dependent diabetes" because 70 percent of diagnoses occur before a person reaches the age of 30; with type one diabetes the pancreas produces little to no insulin.

 

The onset of type one diabetes is usually sudden and clear-cut; symptoms include increased urination, thirst or dry mouth, hunger, weight loss (despite normal or increased eating), blurred vision, frequent or continuous infections and tingling or pain in the hands, feet or both.

 

Those diagnosed with type one diabetes will always need to take insulin, which must be kept in balance along with nutrition and exercise.

 

Type Two

Ninety percent of those diagnosed with diabetes have type two diabetes. With this type of diabetes, the body either resists the effects of insulin or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Although often called "adult onset diabetes," type two diabetes is on the increase among U.S. children and adolescents. Symptoms of type two diabetes are generally the same as experienced with type one, but come on gradually or may not be noticed at all.

 

If a healthy diet and exercise is not enough to satisfactorily lower  blood sugar levels, oral or injectable medication may be required to manage type two diabetes.

 

Gestational

This type of diabetes develops during pregnancy and is caused by increased production of hormones that make the body less able to use insulin. Most cases go away after birth, but the risk of developing type two later in life is elevated.

 

Other Types of Diabetes

Additional, less common, types of diabetes include surgically-induced diabetes, following pancreas surgery; chemically-induced diabetes, most commonly caused by steroid use; and latent autoimmune diabetes, which is a more slowly progressing variation of type one diabetes.

 

Diabetes Care

 

For those diagnosed with diabetes,  blood sugar testing as recommended by a health care provider should be followed regularly, routine follow-up care should be sought, medication and/or insulin should be taken as prescribed, and a medical alert bracelet or other identifier should be worn if taking insulin. Blood pressure control and cholesterol management are also important.

 

 

 

For additional information about diabetes, its management and prevention, click here.
         ABS WEBSITE      
       ABS PRODUCTS     
  

ABS Office Locations:

 

    Birmingham and

Sterling Heights, Michigan

__________________

What is Your
Diabetes Risk?

Take a quiz here to determine your risk of developing Type Two Diabetes

___________________
people-outside.jpg

Want to start a National Health Observances awareness campaign in your office?


Go to the National Health Observances website for the annual NHO calendar, topical links and monthly toolkits.
Wellness Programs Available
from ABS Managed Care Administrators

Evidence-based wellness and prevention programs are available from ABS sister company, ABS Managed Care Administrators (ABSMCA). These programs are designed to target chronic diseases or lifestyle issues within a group's membership and to work in conjunction with ABSMCA disease management programs.

ABSMCA Wellness and Prevention Programs are tailored to fit a membership's unique needs, and range from something as simple as providing members a financial incentive to complete annual physical exams; to a combination of member outreach and mailings, on-line health assessments, onsite health fairs, and community health events. 

Groups and agents interested in additional information regarding available wellness programs should contact ABS Client Services at 586-693-4300.
ABS CONTACTS
Sales Support
 MI, IN, IL, OH, WI BUSINESS
 
 ABS Sales Support Hotline
(844) 828-5968
 
EGP BUSINESS
Sue LaCavera
(800) 229-2210 x 139
Sales Support Team Mailbox

   
Donna Sulhan
(800) 229-2210 x 119
 

Third Party Administration.  First-Class Results.
Home Office
8220 Irving Road  I  Sterling Heights, MI  48312  I  Tel  586.693.4300
  
Sales and Marketing Divisions
 255 S Old Woodward  I  Suite 300  I  Birmingham, MI  48009  I  Tel  844-828-5968
Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.                            M_ABS_NL_TT_2014_11