April 2021: Focusing on Diabetes Management
Something BIG is happening in April, but before we can get to the good stuff, let’s take some time to cover some background information:
A 3 Minute Crash Course on Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes, a disease where your blood sugar, or blood glucose, levels are too high. Both types have to do with how your body creates and regulates Insulin, a hormone that helps the glucose (sugars broken down from the food you eat) get into your cells, to give them energy.
Type 1 Diabetes:
Your body does not make insulin. This is most commonly diagnosed in children and young adults, since it’s something that can be inherited genetically. If a blood test shows you have diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin for the rest of your life. Insulin is usually taken before each meal, and patients use various glucose meters to determine how much to take.
Click here to learn more about Type 1 Diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes:
This is the more common type in which your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. This type of diabetes is often diagnosed later in life, and can be caused by poor diet and exercise, obesity, genetic predisposition or as a result of your body aging naturally.
Click here to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes.
How do you treat Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetics usually receive a continuous monitor and an insulin pump that they keep on them at all times.
Type 2 diabetics have a variety of treatment options, depending on the severity of their diabetes. For some, oral medications must be taken regularly to help normalize blood sugar. However, many with type 2 diabetes need to carry a testing kit, prescribed insulin and take a recommended amount before each meal. This involves pricking your finger in order to place a drop of blood on a testing strip that’s then placed in a glucose measuring device.
OR…
Join Our New POPS Diabetes Pilot Program
Starting 4/1/2021, Nice will be partnering with Pops Diabetes to offer additional support to our diabetic patient population in the way of simple technology.
Pops offers one of the most discreet, easy to use diabetes management systems available. Pops' virtual care system is patented, FDA cleared and makes managing diabetes easier and more convenient than ever.
Patients participating in the Pops pilot program will receive a Welcome Kit that includes:
The Rebel glucose meter
8 foil packages of Rebel meter lancets
2 of each, sizes 1-4
Magnets for phone attachment
Instruction manual
Patients who have access to our full suite of services are eligible to participate in this program. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, check with your HR team.
Participating in the pilot is easy. Here’s how you get involved:
Complete a virtual visit with a Nice provider
Once you’ve been approved to participate, you will receive communications regarding sign-up via the Nice Healthcare app chat and will also have supplemental documents uploaded to your account.
Download the POPS Diabetes app from the QR code on the uploaded document or through the app store.
Once the app is downloaded, go through the sign-up process using your unique sign-up code which will be provided on the document uploaded to your account.
After signing up, your rebel meter will be delivered within 5-7 days. And believe us, it’s cooler than you think it is. Check out this Unboxing video and you may start feeling that FOMO too:
Thank you for reading this month’s newsletter and be sure to check The Nicessities periodically, for more patient resources, newsletters, and educational content.