joann's health&fitness blog

I read in the New York Times online that there had been 4 diabetes treatment centers in that city for 7 years, but 3 recently closed. Diabetes, as we all know, is increasing. As we all should know, it is a very nasty disease, and can lead to blindness or amputation if not controlled. The purpose of these centers was to teach and encourage people with type 2 diabetes to take care of their disease by monitoring blood sugar, eating properly, and getting appropriate exercise. So did they close because they were unsuccessful? No, they closed because they were not profitable. Insurance, even for those of us who can afford it, tends not to pay for preventive measures. So, according to the article, insurance would not pay $150 for a podiatrist to teach a diabetic to care for their feet, but would pay $30,000 to cover an amputation of a foot. It would not pay $75 for a nutritionist to create a dietary plan, but would pay $315 for a dialysis session. In 40 minutes, a nutritionist might give $20 worth of advice, but in the same time period, a surgeon could perform bariatric (stomach stapling) surgery for $50,000. Guess which insurance pays for? The take-home message is that we have to pay attention to our own health. Practice good health habits to avoid disease, and if you have a medical problem, do what the doctor says, but be aware that you have to take responsibility for not only following directions, but learning about what you can do to help yourself. Eat right and work out.