If you’ve attempted to implement a disease management program, chances are, Type II diabetes was one of the driving forces. Unfortunately, most of these programs show results that are limited at best. As one of 25 million US diabetics, I can share some insight. Diabetics don’t need a phone call reminding them to lose weight. They don’t need reminders to take their medication. We’re embarrassed enough – and these programs, however unintentionally, are humiliating. It’s easier to avoid the discussion and take a pill.

It’s just so easy to take a pill!

My diabetes diagnosis came in 2005. And like most Americans, I was relieved when my doctor explained that it could be managed with diet, exercise, and oral medication. I was already into exercise. And as it turned out, I really didn’t need to adjust my diet much – the meds were more than sufficient to correct my sugar levels. Over time, the medications became less effective and more were prescribed to compensate. 

Six months ago, my physician informed me that oral meds were no longer sufficient and that I’d need to start taking insulin injections. We all have our snapping points. That was mine. I refused the prescription and started my quest to understand exactly how my body was failing. What I found was a video that changed my life. 

If you are a diabetic, you need to see this. If you employ diabetics, I hope you’ll share the below video with them.

Sugar: The Bitter Truth is a presentation by Dr. Robert Luskin, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, at the University of California – San Francisco. Get ready for a new understanding of your metabolism. And if you’re a diabetic, get ready to learn exactly why your body is failing and how much of the solution is in your control.
After watching this video, the changes I made in my diet alone have resulted in a significant reduction in my oral medication and a return to normal blood sugar levels. No insulin. No injections.

Like I said, we all have our snapping points – that point at which we decide to do anything and everything to overcome a problem. This video helped me take the bull by the horns. It’s technical. It’s a little dry. It’s ninety minutes! But it’s enlightening beyond words and worth every second.

Treating sleep apnea can be an expensive proposition. It has traditionally involved visiting the doctor, participating in a lab-based sleep study, and purchasing a CPAP machine (the most commonly prescribed and least invasive solution). The doctor visit is usually less than $200. CPAP machines can now be purchased outright for anywhere from $180 to $600. But the largest cost has traditionally been the sleep study itself.

Typically, doctors will order a lab-based sleep study, or polysomnography (PSG). They can range in cost but commonly the fees are in the thousands – sometimes up to $10,000. For what? For the opportunity to sleep in a lab with electrodes taped to your body. The monitoring equipment measures your heart rhythms and breathing function. Basically, it measures the number of times you stop breathing per hour and how that affects the oxygen levels in your system. As oxygen drops, your heart becomes stressed as it tries to compensate by pumping more blood through your system – a dangerous condition to be sure!

The problem with the lab-based sleep study is that you rarely sleep. You are in a strange environment with electrodes confining your position. In cases of severe apnea, even if you’re lucky enough to fall asleep – the lab technicians won’t allow you to sleep for long. You are woken up and instructed to place a CPAP mask over your face. Now it’s time to sleep again. Really? As if the lab, electrodes, and body tape weren’t restricting enough, you are now expected to fall asleep with headgear and a mask on your face. Regardless, the doctor requires the results from this study to justify your CPAP prescription.

Recently, home-based studies have been made available for a fraction of the cost (in the area of $500). While home-based monitoring equipment may have a few limitations when compared with dedicated labs, they do monitor you in your own environment – your own bed, pillow, etc.. In the end, the results serve the same purpose. They justify the prescription for a CPAP. If you live with a high deductible or are managing the cost of claims for your company, consider home-based sleep studies as viable, less expensive alternatives to traditional PSGs.

This is a profitable business so you’ll find providers all over Illinois. SNAP Diagnostics out of Wheeling (www.snapdiagnostics.com) offers home-based equipment. You can also contact the Midwest Snoring Institute in Naperville (www.midwestsnoring.com).

When it comes to finding the best deal on prescription drugs, we have a great local resource – LesliesList.org. This site was created by Leslie Ramirez, a doctor at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Very easy to use! Just plug-in the name of your medication and go.

• Taking Crestor for your cholesterol? You can spend $5.97/pill at Walgreens or $4.73/pill at Target!
• Taking Lisinopril for your high blood pressure? You can spend 53 cents a pill at CVS or 11 cents at Kmart!

Even if you have a drug card with at $10 generic copay, you’re better-off just paying cash for all of the generics on the Walmart $4 Drug List.  And if you’ve got an HSA without a drug card, every penny counts.

Don’t miss this site! It’s a great resource to use for yourself and to share with your employees.

Visit www.LesliesList.org today!