Does Your Family Know These Blood Sugar Facts?
This year, the focus of World Diabetes Day is all about family and diabetes, and we are celebrating by taking a close look at how families support each other in managing health. Can diabetes actually help families make health a priority? We think so—especially when families understand the demands of diabetes, and as a result their own individual health needs. When it comes to managing diabetes, it is all about blood sugar. If blood sugar (or “blood glucose”) levels get too high or too low, it can drastically alter your mood, your well-being, and even your long-term health. But as important as blood sugar management is, for...
Read More
Blood glucose meter accuracy
When you check your blood sugar, it's easy to assume that the meter will give you an accurate result. However, a meter's accuracy depends upon a lot of factors. Roche, the maker of Accu-Chek products, believes that you deserve a reliable meter and a test result you can act upon with confidence. That's why ensuring quality and accuracy has always been our top priority. In an average week, our quality control process tests a combined total of over 60,000 Accu-Chek test strips for consistent accuracy.1 In addition, strict manufacturing processes ensure that our products meet uncompromising standards...
Read More
Concerned about coverage for preexisting conditions, including diabetes? Here's what you can do.
Let's be clear—the only side we're on here is the side of people with diabetes. However, since anyone reading this is likely to have diabetes or have it in the family, we all have an interest in whether diabetes care remains covered by insurance. One of the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) was to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage or charging you more due to diabetes or any other preexisting health issue.1 However, the U.S. Senate has already voted to repeal the act...
Read More
Changes to diabetes coverage? Rising insulin costs? Make sure your voice is heard.
Managing diabetes is complicated enough—without wondering if your insurance will cover the necessary treatment and supplies, or if you can continue to afford insulin. So, without getting political, we'd like to talk a bit about what may be on the horizon, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family. Coverage for preexisting conditions, including diabetes Diabetes is a lifelong, expensive disease. Before the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) prevented insurance companies from denying people coverage due to preexisting conditions, many with diabetes went uninsured or found themselves...
Read More
What to do about diabetes coverage changes in the new year
For many of us, a new year means a new deductible and perhaps even a new insurance policy. Of course, your policy year may not sync with the calendar year, but it seemed like a good time to talk about policy changes and what may be on the horizon for 2017. Coverage through state insurance exchanges There's been a lot of talk about coverage for diabetes supplies and possible changes to the Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare). So far, coverage through this marketplace remains intact.1 While it's impossible to predict whether the new administration will take steps to repeal...
Read More
Mobile apps: powerful data, at your fingertips
A mobile app can be an extremely useful tool, helping you manage your day-to-day life with diabetes. There are a lot of apps out there, but here are some of the ones we found that had high ratings, were free or affordable, and had an easy-to-use format. For example, the mySugr logbook app calls itself "a loyal diabetes companion," because it makes it easy to collect, view and analyze blood sugar, insulin, carbs, food, you name it. It...
Read More
Save money with the need vs. love spending matrix
That sounds very sophisticated, but the need vs. love matrix is quite simple. It's just a way to consider the importance of potential expenditures and decide where something should be on your priority list. Once you've mastered the matrix for cash flow, you can use it for time management, too. It looks like this: ...
Read More
What you need to know about Medicare Part B coverage for diabetes supplies
What does Medicare Part B cover for people with diabetes? Medicare Part B will cover much of...
Read More
SOS: Save on self-care
Have you ever felt like you had to choose between diabetes supplies and other expenses? It's a scary proposition, as we know that not being able to test your blood sugar can increase the risk of low blood sugar and affect your ability to manage diabetes properly.1 What can you do if you find yourself tempted to cut back on your diabetes self-care? Here are 7 ideas that may help. Don't try to save money by skipping necessary blood sugar checks. You may wind up with a few extra dollars per day in your pocket, but your blood sugar can easily get back on the roller coaster.1 As a result, you'...
Read MorePages
Blood glucose meter accuracy
When you check your blood sugar, it's easy to assume that the meter will give you an accurate result. However, a meter's accuracy depends upon a lot of factors. Roche, the maker of Accu-Chek products, believes that you deserve a reliable meter and a test result you can act upon with confidence. That's why ensuring quality and accuracy has always been our top priority. In an average week, our quality control process tests a combined total of over 60,000 Accu-Chek test strips for consistent accuracy.1 In addition, strict manufacturing processes ensure that our products meet uncompromising standards...
Read More Concerned about coverage for preexisting conditions, including diabetes? Here's what you can do.
Let's be clear—the only side we're on here is the side of people with diabetes. However, since anyone reading this is likely to have diabetes or have it in the family, we all have an interest in whether diabetes care remains covered by insurance. One of the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) was to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage or charging you more due to diabetes or any other preexisting health issue.1 However, the U.S. Senate has already voted to repeal the act...
Read More Changes to diabetes coverage? Rising insulin costs? Make sure your voice is heard.
Managing diabetes is complicated enough—without wondering if your insurance will cover the necessary treatment and supplies, or if you can continue to afford insulin. So, without getting political, we'd like to talk a bit about what may be on the horizon, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family. Coverage for preexisting conditions, including diabetes Diabetes is a lifelong, expensive disease. Before the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) prevented insurance companies from denying people coverage due to preexisting conditions, many with diabetes went uninsured or found themselves...
Read More What to do about diabetes coverage changes in the new year
For many of us, a new year means a new deductible and perhaps even a new insurance policy. Of course, your policy year may not sync with the calendar year, but it seemed like a good time to talk about policy changes and what may be on the horizon for 2017. Coverage through state insurance exchanges There's been a lot of talk about coverage for diabetes supplies and possible changes to the Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare). So far, coverage through this marketplace remains intact.1 While it's impossible to predict whether the new administration will take steps to repeal...
Read More Mobile apps: powerful data, at your fingertips
A mobile app can be an extremely useful tool, helping you manage your day-to-day life with diabetes. There are a lot of apps out there, but here are some of the ones we found that had high ratings, were free or affordable, and had an easy-to-use format. For example, the mySugr logbook app calls itself "a loyal diabetes companion," because it makes it easy to collect, view and analyze blood sugar, insulin, carbs, food, you name it. It...
Read More Save money with the need vs. love spending matrix
That sounds very sophisticated, but the need vs. love matrix is quite simple. It's just a way to consider the importance of potential expenditures and decide where something should be on your priority list. Once you've mastered the matrix for cash flow, you can use it for time management, too. It looks like this: ...
Read More What you need to know about Medicare Part B coverage for diabetes supplies
What does Medicare Part B cover for people with diabetes? Medicare Part B will cover much of...
Read More SOS: Save on self-care
Have you ever felt like you had to choose between diabetes supplies and other expenses? It's a scary proposition, as we know that not being able to test your blood sugar can increase the risk of low blood sugar and affect your ability to manage diabetes properly.1 What can you do if you find yourself tempted to cut back on your diabetes self-care? Here are 7 ideas that may help. Don't try to save money by skipping necessary blood sugar checks. You may wind up with a few extra dollars per day in your pocket, but your blood sugar can easily get back on the roller coaster.1 As a result, you'...
Read More