November 2022
BCBSIL Helps Some Rural Members Prevent or Manage Diabetes
Diabetes Awareness Month is in November and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is getting the word out to our members about diabetes, and especially prediabetes. Our members’ wellness can’t wait. Small changes in their diet and lifestyle may be able to help prevent diabetes or delay its onset.
In Illinois, approximately 1.3 million adults, or 12.5% of the population, have diabetes, but roughly 341,000 of those don’t know it.1 It’s estimated that 84 million Americans have prediabetes, of which 3.6 million live in Illinois.2 Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death nationally and in Illinois.3
Individuals with diabetes are at an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, dental disease and lower extremity amputations (not related to injuries).4 Diabetes and its complications occur among all age, racial, and ethnic groups, but Illinois rural counties predominately make up rates higher than the state's average.5 These increased rates are attributed to less diabetes-related health care services and access to diabetes self-management education programs than urban populations.
BCBSIL Resources
BCBSIL is committed to our members throughout the state. To help with this rural disparity, we offer two digital programs – Livongo and Omada Health – that may help some of our members prevent and manage diabetes. Both programs offer members holistic support for comorbid conditions that frequently occur with diabetes such as, hypertension, dyslipidemia, weight management and mental health. The programs provide the technology needed, such as a glucose reader, blood pressure monitor, and digital scale. One-on-one coaching, group classes and personalized programs provide support and accountability.
If you’d like to learn more about these programs, visit the Livongo or Omada Health websites. If you think one of these programs would be a good fit for your patients, have them call the number on their BCBSIL ID card to see if the program is covered by their benefits.
BCBSIL promotes preventive health through Wellness Can’t Wait materials and resources for our members. You may want to share this video with your patients. Our vice president and chief medical officer, Derek Robinson, encourages people with diabetes to work with their health care provider to make a care plan. Your patients also may learn more about prediabetes using this flyer and articles on our Connect Community.
1, 2, 3, 4 Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Diabetes. https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diabetes.html#:~:text=Prediabetes%20is%20a%20health%20condition,prediabetes%20from%20progressing%20to%20diabetes.
5 IDPH, Diabetes Burden Report, 2021. https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/publications/idph/topics-and-services/diseases-and-conditions/diabetes/Diabetes-Burden-Report-Infographic_10.20.21.pdf
The above material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own best medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the best course of treatment. References to other third party sources or organizations are not a representation, warranty or endorsement of such organization. The fact that a service or treatment is described in this material is not a guarantee that the service or treatment is a covered benefit and members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any service or treatment is between the member and their health care provider.
Livongo and Omada are independent companies that provide chronic disease prevention and/or management solutions for BCBSIL. Livongo and Omada are solely responsible for the products and services provided. BCBSIL makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding third-party vendors and the products and services offered by them.