Summer 2016 Midwest
S I M P LY W E L L We l l n e s s T i p s a n d E n c o u r a g e m e n t f ro m H e a l t h A l l i a n c e
Helpful Resources Diabetes
• American Diabetes Association, diabetes.org • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cdc.gov/diabetes • National Diabetes Education Program, ndep.nih.gov • For Kids: kidshealth.org (search for “diabetes”) Asthma
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, www.nhlbi.nih.gov (search for “asthma”) • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cdc.gov/asthma/inhaler_video • American Lung Association, lung.org/asthma • For Kids: American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, aaaai.org (search for “kids”)
Could Beliefs and Values Affect Your Health Care?—p. 1 Other Conditions Can Pair with Asthma—p. 2 Keep Diabetes Control on Your Summer To-Do List—p. 3 Start the School Year off Right—p. 5
Get Help Managing Your Health Summer is a great time to take stock of how things are going so far this year and to make changes to help you meet your health and wellness goals. If you’re dealing with an ongoing health issue or trying to make a healthy lifestyle change, Health Alliance case managers and health coaches can help support you so you never feel like you’re doing it alone.
Case managers • Help you transition from hospital to home • Coordinate care across multiple providers • Help you manage long-term health issues
Health coaches • Help you set and reach goals related to nutrition, weight Our case managers and health management and physical activity coaches can help you in the following ways. • Help you better understand what it takes to successfully manage a • Answer questions about your chronic disease, like diabetes or condition high cholesterol • Provide tools and lifestyle skills to minimize the risk of problems • Teach self-care skills To learn more or start working with a case manager or health • Give you educational materials and free resources for managing coach at no extra cost to you, your condition call 1-800-851-3379, ext. 8112. • Provide support on the phone at your convenience • Keep you, your providers and your This program does not replace the medical caregivers connected care you receive from your doctor. We work • Help you make the most of your with you and your doctor to make sure healthcare benefits your management plan is working. Case managers and health coaches also have different areas of expertise to help you be your best.
Could Your Beliefs and Values Affect Your Health Care? Your doctor partners with you to help you be as healthy as possible. To keep you both on the same page, talk to him or her if your cultural or personal
Provider Preference You should feel comfortable with your healthcare provider, and it’s OK to specify that you’d like to see a male or female. For example, some women feel more comfortable with a female OB-GYN. You can also ask if there is a provider available to speak with you in a language other than English. Log in to YourHealthAlliance.org or call the number on the back of your ID card to find providers in your network. Diet If your diet changes during specific times of the year, involves fasting or is otherwise restricted, your doctor might have you work with a dietician to make sure you are getting the proper nutrients. This is especially important if you have diabetes or another condition affected by what you eat.
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values, spiritual beliefs or religious practices might affect any of the following areas.
Treatment Plan Talk to your doctor about your healthcare options if you will not: • Take any (or certain) medications • Get surgery, physical therapy or chemotherapy • Accept a blood transfusion or life- sustaining treatment, like a ventilator or feeding tube To make sure your doctors and family know your healthcare wishes, fill out an advance directive. Go to your state’s Department of Health website to learn more and download the form. Take time at your next visit to discuss any of these topics that apply to you. It will help you and your doctor build a more open relationship and could lead to getting care that better fits your life.
Other Conditions Can Pair with Asthma Even if you have control over your asthma and know how to avoid triggers, there are similar conditions you can have alongside asthma that are helpful to learn about, too. Asthma means your airways tighten, swell and overreact to triggers in the air, making breathing difficult.
Allergies and Eczema Allergies occur when the immune system tries to fight off something that is harmless to most people. These triggers can cause many different symptoms, including rashes, sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, hives and vomiting. Severe reactions can be life-threatening and can cause you to go into shock. Eczema is the result of skin cells overreacting to a trigger. It shows up as an itchy rash. Much like asthma, you should avoid your triggers to keep your eczema and allergies in check. Many triggers are the same or similar for eczema, allergies and asthma, and having eczema or allergies could be an early sign you also have asthma.
COPD Like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that affects the lungs. Symptoms include ongoing cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing up mucus. You can have COPD in addition to asthma, and although its symptoms and triggers can be similar, it is often caused by smoking or long-term contact with chemicals, dust or other fumes. If you have COPD, you should avoid triggers that make it worse. If you have one or more of these conditions, follow your doctor’s treatment plan and talk to him or her about identifying and avoiding your triggers. 2
Keep Diabetes Control on Your Summer To-Do List Diabetes and Your Eyes
Diabetes raises the risk of becoming blind and of getting many types of eye disorders. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help reduce your risk. ✓ Keep your blood sugar in check by following your doctor’s directions.
✓ Keep your blood pressure under control. ✓ Don’t smoke. If you do, stop.
✓ Visit your eye doctor at least once a year for a dilated eye exam.
✓ Call your eye doctor if you’re having eye pain or vision problems.
Diabetes can lead to eye and kidney problems, so it’s important to keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in check and visit your primary doctor and eye doctor regularly. Relax your mind and body this summer, but don’t relax your diabetes monitoring, treatment or eating habits.
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Here are some types of eye problems people with diabetes have an increased risk for developing. Glaucoma This occurs when pressure builds up and pinches blood vessels that lead to key parts of your eye. Your risk for glaucoma increases with age and the longer you have diabetes. Treatment can include meds to reduce eye pressure and, in some cases, surgery. Cataracts This happens when the lens of your eye gets cloudy and blocks light. People with diabetes tend to get cataracts at a younger age than people without diabetes, and it oftentimes gets worse more quickly. Sunglasses and glare-control lenses in your glasses can help with mild cataracts. For advanced cases, doctors usually remove the lens of the eye. This can lead to glaucoma and worsening retinopathy.
Go to diabetes.org for more information about how eye and kidney problems relate to diabetes.
Quit For Life More than 45 million Americans have quit smoking, and you can, too. The Quit For Life® program helps you break tobacco’s mental and physical hold. You’ll get one-on-one coaching, a personalized quit plan and other helpful tools. It’s never too late to quit. For more information, visit QuitNow.net or call 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (1-866-784-8454).
Diabetes and Your Kidneys
You can help protect your kidneys in many of the same ways you protect your eyes. ✓ Control your blood sugar.
✓ Keep your blood pressure in check (at or under 140/90 mmHg). ✓ Don’t smoke.
Retinopathy This is a word used for all retina disorders caused by diabetes. • Nonproliferative retinopathy, which is the most common type, happens when tiny blood vessels in the back of the eye form pouches as they become blocked. This does not usually cause vision loss, but if fluid leaks into the part of the eye that allows you to focus, you can lose vision. This is called macular edema and must be treated. Treatment can usually stop and sometimes reverse vision loss. • Proliferative retinopathy happens when the blood vessels close off completely. New vessels start growing in the retina, but they are weak. They may leak blood, which can block vision and lead to other problems, like scarring. There are multiple treatment methods, like laser treatment and medication injections, that slow the leakage of fluid and may prevent blindness in most people. Treatment is typically more successful for early diagnoses than for late diagnoses.
Diabetes and Your Kidneys High blood sugar levels can also lead to kidney damage. Kidneys filter waste out of your blood, but uncontrolled sugar makes the kidneys filter too much blood, putting extra pressure on the filtering system. Damaged kidneys can eventually lead to kidney failure, meaning they can no longer filter blood and allow waste to build up in the bloodstream. At that point, the only treatment options are dialysis and transplant. To help protect your kidneys, you should also get the following screenings yearly. If you have type 1 diabetes and do not have high blood pressure, you should start yearly screenings five years after your diagnosis. • Urinary albumin test • Estimated glomerular filtration rate test People with moderate to severe kidney disease may not have symptoms, so regular checkups and testing are key. 4
Start the School Year Off Right Summer is in full swing, and there’s still plenty of time to squeeze in some fun before kids go back to school. But between baseball games and family barbecues, you’re probably starting to think about school supplies and class schedules. If you’re a parent or caregiver of a child with asthma or diabetes, you should also start planning to help your child have a healthy and safe school year. Know Your Risk for Depression
People living with chronic conditions can be at an increased risk for depression. To assess your symptoms, take a free screening quiz at HealthAlliance.org. Visit the Health page of our Health & Wellness section to look at our depression resources under Behavioral Health.
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Asthma • Share your child’s Asthma Action Plan with the school. This has directions for early treatment of symptoms, a list of triggers and emergency contact info for you and your child’s doctor. Go to lung.org and search for “Asthma Action Plan” for more info and a sample plan. • Call or visit the school nurse. Ask about any forms your child needs signed by his or her doctor to carry an inhaler and get treatment at school. Discuss your child’s Asthma Action Plan. Also, ask about the school’s asthma emergency plan and whether teachers and other staff are trained in how to help your child in an emergency. • Ask about a 504 Plan. A 504 Plan makes sure the school doesn’t discriminate against people with disabilities, which in some cases, includes asthma. Call the school to find out more. • Talk with your child. Go over his or her Asthma Action Plan several times before school starts. Make sure your child knows to tell an adult right away if he or she is having an attack or doesn’t feel right. Encourage your child to find a friend he or she can count on to help get the inhaler and find an adult if your child can’t.
Diabetes • Create a Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) and 504 Plan for school. A DMMP explains your child’s needs and has a schedule for insulin and blood sugar testing. A 504 Plan makes sure the school doesn’t discriminate against people with diabetes so your child is safe and treated fairly. Fill out these plans at the start of each school year and during the year if anything changes. • Give “low boxes” to the school. A low box has snacks and glucagon (if your child’s doctor prescribes it) to raise your child’s blood glucose. The school should keep one box in the nurse’s office and one in your child’s classroom. Mention this in your DMMP and 504 Plan. • Talk with your child. Make sure your child knows what low blood sugar may feel like and knows to tell an adult right away if it happens. Also, discuss not swapping lunches or snacks with other kids.
Go to diabetes.org and search for “DMMP” and “504 Plan” for examples.
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PRESORT STD US POSTAGE PAID CHAMPAIGN, IL PERMIT NO 488 301 S. Vine St. Urbana, IL 61801
Health Alliance Medicare is an HMO and PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Health Alliance Medicare depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits and copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year.
Fresh Corn, Tomato and Zucchini Salad Ingredients
6 medium-to-large ears of corn on the cob (shucked and rinsed) *
Health and wellness or prevention information
3 small-to-medium zucchini, rinsed 1 pint pear or cherry tomatoes, halved
Tips: If the salad sits in the refrigerator overnight, it may gather additional liquid from the fresh vegetables. Just drain any additional liquid.
1/4 cup slivered fresh basil leaves 4 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon honey
Nutrition information per serving (8 total servings): 118 calories; 20 g carbohydrates; 2.5 g protein; 4.3 g fat (0.6 g saturated); 6.6 g sugar; 157 g sodium; 2.5 g fiber.
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Recipe from RecipeGirl.com
Instructions 1. Cut corn off the cob by placing it upright in a deep bowl, and cut down the sides of the cob with a sharp knife.
2. Dice zucchini into 1/2-inch pieces (leave skin on) and add to the bowl. Add tomatoes and basil. 3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, honey and lime juice. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to combine. Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour and up to four hours until ready to serve. Toss again before serving to redistribute the dressing. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper just before serving. *The corn does not need to be cooked, but cooked corn may be easier on your stomach. And corn’s antioxidant activity is increased when cooked. qm-simplywell-0716 • Y0034_16_44037 • Accepted