The National Council on Aging

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The National Council on Aging

• Mission
• Improving the lives of older Americans
• A non-profit organization with a national
  network of more than 14,000 organizations and
  individuals, NCOA was founded in 1950 and is
  based in Washington, DC. NCOA is famous for
  starting Meals on Wheels, Foster Grandparents,
  and BenefitsCheckUp.

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The National Council on Aging

• NCOA programs help seniors
• Access benefits programs
• Find meaningful jobs volunteer opportunities
• Enhance their ability to live in community with
  dignity, choice and financial security.
• Improve their health reduce disability

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• Diabetes and Your Heart How Medicare Helps

Diabetes and Your Heart How Medicare
Helps Supported by an education grant by


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• Incidence of Diabetes and Hypertension
• Diagnosis
• Controlling Risk Factors
• Treatments Available
• Next Steps

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• Incidence of Diabetes
• 20.8 Million people in the U.S. have Diabetes
  (7 of the Population)
• 1/3 are Undiagnosed
• 35 Million Medicare-eligible Seniors
• 21 of all persons gt age 60 have diabetes

NDIC National Diabetes Statistics, CDC 2005
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• What is Diabetes?
• Diabetes is a serious disease in which the body
  does not produce, or properly use insulin.
• Diabetes can lead to serious health problems and
  premature death.
• NIDDK, National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet.
  HHS, NIH 2005

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• Symptoms of Diabetes
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent Urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Non-healing wounds or sores

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• Types of Diabetes
• Pre-diabetes
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes

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• Diabetes is more common in African Americans,
  Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and
  Pacific Islanders.

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• Diabetes is diagnosed by a simple blood test.
• A person has diabetes if
• Fasting plasma glucose (blood sugar) is 126
  mg/dL or greater.
• A random plasma glucose  value is 200 mg/dl or
  more (in the presence of diabetes symptoms)

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• Pre-diabetes may occur before type 2 diabetes.
• 54 million people in the U.S. have pre-diabetes.
• Persons with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay
  Type 2 diabetes by 58 with weight loss (5-10)
  and regular exercise (30 minutes daily).

Diabetes Prevention Program Study-ADA
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• Incidence of Diabetes Hypertension
• Up to 65 of people with Diabetes also have
  High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

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• The Silent Epidemic
• One in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure,
  but because there are no symptoms, nearly
  one-third of these people don't know they have
  it.
• Adults 55 - have a 90 risk of developing
  Hypertension.
• In 90-95 of high blood pressure cases, the
  cause is unknown.

American Heart Association statistics
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• What is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)?
• Pre-Hypertension
• Hypertension

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• Risk of Having Both Conditions
• Adults with diabetes - two to four times more
  likely to have hypertension
• Men with diabetes - three times more likely to
  have high blood pressure
• Data from various
  sources, including American Diabetes Association

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• The Diabetes Hypertension Link High blood
  pressure increases the risk of coronary heart
  disease (which leads to heart attack) and stroke,
  especially when it's present with other risk
  factors, such as diabetes. When a person has high
  blood pressure and diabetes, a common
  combination, their risk for cardiovascular
  disease doubles

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Diabetes and Hypertension Risk factors Overweigh
t/obesity Age Cholesterol Smoking
Physical inactivity Gender Race
Family History
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Diabetes and hypertension are treatable
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How can diabetes and hypertension be treated and
managed? Become active for 30 minutes a
day. Eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and
vegetables and exercise portion control. Take
medication, if prescribed and do not stop taking
any medication without consulting with your
physician. Monitor your glucose levels and blood
pressure. Quit smoking
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• Good News
• Blood pressure control reduces the risk of heart
  disease among persons with diabetes by
• 33-50 and the risk of diabetic kidney, eye, and
  nerve disease by approximately 33 .
• Data provided by The U.S. Department of Health
  and Human Services National Diabetes Education
  Program.

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• You may have questions
• Where can you go to be screened?
• How can I manage my own symptoms if I am
  diagnosed with diabetes and/or hypertension?
• What treatments may work for me?

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• Were here to help you find some of the answers
  to help you CONNECT THE DOTS to your own health.

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Medicare has new Prevention and Screening
Benefits that help people to get properly
diagnosed.
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• Campaign is timed to coincide with
• My Health. My Medicare.
• - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
• Both promote awareness of Prevention
  Benefits

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• Medicare Part B - Prevention Benefits
• Diabetes Screenings
• For eligible beneficiaries with risk factors
  including hypertension, high cholesterol and/or
  high blood glucose (pre-diabetes)
• Eye Exams/Glaucoma Tests
• For eligible beneficiaries with diabetes / Every
  12 months
• Foot Exams
• For eligible beneficiaries with diabetes-related
  nerve damage

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• Medicare Part B - Also Covers
• Diabetes Self-management Training
• For eligible beneficiaries diagnosed with
  diabetes
• Diabetes Supplies
• Including glucose testing monitors, blood glucose
  
• test trips, lancets, glucose solutions
• Medical Nutrition Therapy Services
• Therapeutic Shoes
• Smoking Cessation

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• Medicare Part D Plans Typically Cover
• Insulin
• Oral therapies for diabetes
• Hypertension medications
• Varies with Part D Plan

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• For more information
• National Council on Aging
• www.ncoa.org