Approximately 12 million Americans ages 65 and older have type 2 diabetes
(diagnosed and undiagnosed).1 In addition, 23.1 million adults (48.3
percent) ages 65 or older have prediabetes and are at higher risk for type 2
diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.2,3
Based on these statistics, chances are that many of your older-adult
patients have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, placing them at risk for other
health problems associated with these conditions.
November is National Diabetes Month. This is a good time to talk with your
patients about reducing their risk for prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and the
attendant health issues through healthy lifestyle, which include eating right
and getting enough physical activity. Explain how regular exercise can help
patients:
- lose weight;
- strengthen the heart and improve blood circulation;
- lower blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol;
- increase energy levels;
- sleep better and relieve stress.
Your Independence Medicare Advantage patients can get the activity they need
with the SilverSneakers fitness program by Tivity Health, an independent
company. Patients must use a SilverSneakers-participating facility.
SilverSneakers includes:
- a fitness membership with access to more than 14,000 participating fitness
locations nationwide;
- use of all basic amenities;
- SilverSneakers group exercise classes;
- SilverSneakers FLEX®, with classes such as tai chi, yoga,
and dance, and walking groups at locations where older adults are likely to
gather, such as older-adult living communities, parks, and recreation
centers.
SilverSneakers is available at
no additional cost beyond their plan
premium to Keystone 65 Select HMO, Keystone 65 Preferred HMO, Keystone 65 Focus
Rx HMO, and Personal Choice 65
SM PPO members. Refer your patients to
SilverSneakers to help them get the activity they need for a healthy lifestyle.
Find out more by visiting the
SilverSneakers website or by calling
1-888-423-4632
(TTY:
711).
1www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics
2www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/diabetes-st
atistics
3www.niddk.nih.gov/search?s=all&q=prediabetes. Prediabetes Fact
Sheet, April 2017.
Tivity Health, SilverSneakers, and SilverSneakers FLEX are registered
trademarks or trademarks of Tivity Health, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries and/or
affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.© 2017 Tivity
Health, Inc. All rights reserved.