Diabetes

Seventeen million Americans have diabetes, and over 200,000 individuals die each year of related complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 18 million people reported having diabetes in the U.S. in 2002, and among people ages 60 and older, 18.3% reported having this disease. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death among Michigan residents. Specifically, the Michigan Department of Community Health reports that diabetes was the leading cause of death for 2,954 residents in Michigan (3.5% of all deaths) and listed as a contributory cause of death for another 5,462 residents. Diabetes can cause serious health complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, and leg and foot amputations.

The Benefit of Early Diagnosis and Treatment

These statistics are daunting, however with early diagnosis and treatment of patients with diabetes serious complications can be avoided. Many patients with diabetes learn to effectively manage and significantly reduce the risks associated with the disease, through diabetes self management education programs and lifestyle changes.

Medicare Part B covers the following services for diabetes (based on 2008 coverage):

• A fasting blood glucose test, AND
• A post-glucose challenge test; not limited to an oral glucose tolerance test with
  a glucose challenge of 75 glucose for non- challenge of 75 glucose for non-
  pregnant adults, OR
• A 2-hour post-glucose challenge test alone
• For those with pre-diabetes, Medicare covers a maximum of two diabetes
  screening tests within a 12 month period (but not less than 6 months apart)

For those who do not have diabetes or have not previously been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, Medicare covers one diabetes screening test within a 12 month period (or that at least 11 months have passed following the month in which the last Medicare covered diabetes screening test was performed).

Diabetes Self-Management Training

Medicare approves certain diabetes self-management training services to help beneficiaries successfully manage their disease. A beneficiary can receive diabetes self-management training services if he or she is at risk for complications from diabetes, has been recently diagnosed with diabetes, or has diabetes and is now eligible for Medicare. Beneficiaries pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible for diabetes self-management training services. The physician managing the beneficiary's diabetes must certify that diabetes self-management training services are needed under a comprehensive plan of care.

*Medicare benefits information based on 2008 coverage.

Additional Resources

• Michigan Department of Community Health: Diabetes Prevention & Management
www.michigan.gov/diabetes

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Diabetes Screenings
www.cms.hhs.gov/DiabetesScreening/

• CMS Diabetes Self-Management
www.cms.hhs.gov/DiabetesSelfManagement/

• Michigan Diabetes Outreach Network (MDON)
www.diabetesinmichigan.org/