Our health plans are dedicated to keeping employees healthy and helping employers manage medical spend. One way we are working to achieve this is by promoting diabetes management and closing the care gap for this condition. Our Medical Director and dedicated team of nurses works directly with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health to ensure members receive the care they need for managing diabetes and lowering risks for developing diabetes.
Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes Management
Prevention is important for a variety of conditions, and diabetes is no different. Managing weight by eating well and increasing physical activity can reduce or delay the incidence of diabetes. The Diabetes and Nutrition Center at Lancaster General Health, your Eliance Wellness team, and the Healthy Weight Management program at Lancaster General Health can help patients delay or avoid a diagnosis of diabetes.
Screening for diabetes is essential in high-risk individuals, including:
· Individuals who are overweight or obese
· Individuals who have a first-degree relative with diabetes
· Women with a history of gestational diabetes
· Individuals who have a diagnosis of pre-diabetes
· Anyone over the age of 45
If an individual has a diagnosis of diabetes, the Lancaster General Health team works directly with the patient to ensure they receive the care needed to manage this disease. Care is coordinated through a primary care provider and includes comprehensive diabetes self-management education. If a higher level of care is required, the primary care provider will refer the patient to a diabetes specialist. Taking these steps to successfully manage diabetes helps to delay and prevent the costly complications of this disease.
As with almost every other aspect of our lives, the technology for patients with diabetes has changed dramatically and offers an improved patient experience. Treatment can now be enhanced through telemedicine, and a large percentage of diabetes education can now be done virtually. This allows patients to access the information they need in a timely and convenient manner.
Because diabetes is a chronic condition, its impact can be felt in a variety of ways. For example, behavioral health directly impacts diabetes since factors such as social isolation often lead to poorer overall health, which contributes to the development of chronic health conditions. Other social determinants of health often affect successful diabetes care as well. The Lancaster General Health team can offer patients support with a two-step approach. If a patient has diabetes, they will receive support in their primary care practice office. They can also connect with a behavioral health counselor or an Ambulatory Collaborative Care Team staff member directly in their primary care office so they can receive treatments to support diabetes care.
How Diabetes Management Impacts Employers and the Employee Population
Providing patients with the resources and support needed to manage risk factors and diabetes helps them lead healthier lifestyles. Healthy employees with well-controlled diabetes have reduced absences at work, experience increased productivity and help employers manage their medical spend. By working directly with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health providers, our health plan can improve member health and keep the Lancaster community healthy. To learn more about Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health's Diabetes Care services, please visit one of the following links:
Diabetes and Nutrition Center
Lancaster General Health Physicians Diabetes and Endocrinology
To learn more about preventive screenings and educational resources to help prevent, detect and manage diabetes, please contact your Wellness Specialist or Client Manager.
Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes Management
Prevention is important for a variety of conditions, and diabetes is no different. Managing weight by eating well and increasing physical activity can reduce or delay the incidence of diabetes. The Diabetes and Nutrition Center at Lancaster General Health, your Eliance Wellness team, and the Healthy Weight Management program at Lancaster General Health can help patients delay or avoid a diagnosis of diabetes.
Screening for diabetes is essential in high-risk individuals, including:
· Individuals who are overweight or obese
· Individuals who have a first-degree relative with diabetes
· Women with a history of gestational diabetes
· Individuals who have a diagnosis of pre-diabetes
· Anyone over the age of 45
If an individual has a diagnosis of diabetes, the Lancaster General Health team works directly with the patient to ensure they receive the care needed to manage this disease. Care is coordinated through a primary care provider and includes comprehensive diabetes self-management education. If a higher level of care is required, the primary care provider will refer the patient to a diabetes specialist. Taking these steps to successfully manage diabetes helps to delay and prevent the costly complications of this disease.
As with almost every other aspect of our lives, the technology for patients with diabetes has changed dramatically and offers an improved patient experience. Treatment can now be enhanced through telemedicine, and a large percentage of diabetes education can now be done virtually. This allows patients to access the information they need in a timely and convenient manner.
Because diabetes is a chronic condition, its impact can be felt in a variety of ways. For example, behavioral health directly impacts diabetes since factors such as social isolation often lead to poorer overall health, which contributes to the development of chronic health conditions. Other social determinants of health often affect successful diabetes care as well. The Lancaster General Health team can offer patients support with a two-step approach. If a patient has diabetes, they will receive support in their primary care practice office. They can also connect with a behavioral health counselor or an Ambulatory Collaborative Care Team staff member directly in their primary care office so they can receive treatments to support diabetes care.
How Diabetes Management Impacts Employers and the Employee Population
Providing patients with the resources and support needed to manage risk factors and diabetes helps them lead healthier lifestyles. Healthy employees with well-controlled diabetes have reduced absences at work, experience increased productivity and help employers manage their medical spend. By working directly with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health providers, our health plan can improve member health and keep the Lancaster community healthy. To learn more about Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health's Diabetes Care services, please visit one of the following links:
Diabetes and Nutrition Center
Lancaster General Health Physicians Diabetes and Endocrinology
To learn more about preventive screenings and educational resources to help prevent, detect and manage diabetes, please contact your Wellness Specialist or Client Manager.