Thanksgiving can be a challenging time of the year for the millions of Americans who live with diabetes. All the carb-filled, sugary foods can cause blood sugar to spike. However, if you have diabetes you do not have to skip out on all the delicious dishes. Below are tasty diabetes-friendly Thanksgiving recipes!
Treat yourself this holiday season without having to worry! It is important to remember to eat in moderation and set reminders for testing blood sugar. All of us at Tria Health are wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving! Be safe, be well and cheers to a healthier YOU!
Have any questions for us?
Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742
Diabetes is a health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose (sugar) which gives the body energy to function. When blood sugar goes up the pancreas releases insulin to allow the blood sugar to be used as energy. If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, diabetes occurs.
Symptoms of diabetes include:
Thirst
Tiredness
Blurred Vision
Wounds that take a long time to heal
Weight Loss
Types of Diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction that stops your body from making insulin. About 5% of the people with diabetes have type 1. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often develop quickly. It is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. Those with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to survive. Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not use insulin well and is unable to keep blood sugar at normal levels. Most people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes.
Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes increases your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Gestational Diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby could be at higher risk for health complications. Gestational diabetes is typically cured after your baby is born, but this increases your risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. Your baby is more likely to become obese as a child or teen, and more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
If you currently are diagnosed or have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, Tria Health can assist you in managing your medications and finding a treatment plan that works for you. Diabetes is a disease that can be managed and prevented if you know what to do. At Tria Health our pharmacists are certified diabetes educators (CDEs). They educate patients on medication management, diet and exercise so patients with diabetes can live happy and active lives and reduce the risk of serious health complications. For employers that offer Tria Health’s Diabetes Management Program, Tria provides free diabetes testing supplies including a blood glucose meter, testing strips, and a mobile app designed to help you manage your diabetes better.
COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus, is a respiratory disease that was first detected in China and has now spread to more than 100 regions internationally, including the United States. The virus itself is called the “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease is called “coronavirus disease 19” (abbreviated “COVID-19”)1. Symptoms can occur 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The reported illnesses have seen mild symptoms to severe illness and even death has been confirmed. Since symptoms can vary per patient it is important to consult your medical provider if any immediate changes happen regarding your health.
Who is most at risk?
Based off early information released from China those at a higher risk include, older adults, pregnant women, people who have a serious chronic medical condition (i.e heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, immunodeficiency, etc.) and people living in a long-term care facility or nursing home.2
How is it spreading?
It is thought that the viruses main form of transmission is person-to-person, within 6-feet, through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes and are inhaled into the lungs of the healthy person. The second possible way a person can get the coronavirus is by touching an infected surface then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.3 To ensure the declining spread of coronavirus please practice social distancing, good hygiene, and avoid discretionary travel.
How can Tria Help?
Since Tria Health provides chronic condition management, many of our patients are at a higher risk for COVID-19, so our pharmacists have been actively educating engaged patients on risk factors and the importance of prevention techniques. For members that have not engaged with Tria Health, but are at a higher risk, Tria Health is providing additional communication and outreach to stress the importance of good health management and the fact that our pharmacists can be a valuable resource. And, as always, our help desk is available to all members. We are committed to assisting members with any questions they may have about their medications, risk factors or ways they can mitigate their risk.
As Halloween approaches, it can be stressful as a diabetic,
to be surrounded by so many sweets and treats. While it’s true that you won’t
be able to snack on a whole bowl of candy, there are still many recipes that
can be enjoyed in moderation. To help you get through this spooky season, we’ve
compiled a list of our favorite diabetic-friendly recipes:
For self-insured employers, heart disease and
diabetes are considered significant hindrances in the effort to improve
employee health while reducing overall healthcare costs. Heart disease is the
leading cause of death for both men and women and about 9.4% of Americans are
diagnosed with diabetes. In order to control cost and help employees, employers
typically look to disease state management programs. While many of these
programs seem beneficial, the durability and long-term effects have limited
evaluation.
What is a
disease management program?
Disease management programs (DMPs) are structured
treatment plans that aim to help people better manage their chronic disease and
to maintain and improve quality of life. DMPs are also run with the general
goal of improving medical treatment in the long term.
Disease management programs also aim to improve cooperation between the various
specialists and institutions that provide care for a patient, such as family
and specialist doctors, hospitals and rehabilitation centers.1
What are
the long-term outcomes of a DMP?2
A recent study published in the NCBI had the main
objective of assessing the 5-year health, economic, and quality-of-life patient
outcomes of an employer-sponsored disease state management program. The program
included one-on-one appointments with a pharmacist that included medication
therapy management, implementation and adherence to 7 personalized lifestyle
medicine programs (ie, physical activity, healthy eating, stress management,
restorative sleep, moderate alcohol consumption, tobacco abstinence/cessation,
and weight control), and chronic disease care coordination practices.
Increased high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol levels: 39.32 mg/dL vs 46.12 mg/dL
Decreased systolic
blood pressure: 132.04 mm Hg vs 123.63 mm Hg
Average exercise time
increased: 50 minutes weekly vs 156.04 minutes weekly
The combined
healthcare and productivity return on investment for the program at 5 years was
$9.64 for every $1 invested.
What is the
difference between a Disease Management program and the Chronic Condition
Management Program offered by Tria Health?
Tria Health started as a disease management
program and has its foundation there, but many disease management programs are focused
one particular disease state versus the program offered by Tria Health which is
patient-centered. Most patients have more than one chronic condition, so taking
a ‘patient-centered’ approach improves overall care and costs.
Interested
in improving your employee’s health?
Tria Health offers Chronic Condition Management through
our Pharmacy Advocate Program. Clinical Pharmacists provide one-on-one
telephonic counseling for members and are their personal advocate to help them
navigate through the health care system. Through reviewing a member’s
medications and lifestyle, including their sleep habits, Tria Pharmacists can
make recommendations that will help control their chronic conditions and help
them feel better!
