Category: Holiday

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The start of a new year is filled with opportunities for a fresh start that can include diabetes management. Here are a few effective ideas that you can implement now that will help you through out the year. #ad

Insurance / FSA / D-Bag / Pump / Supplies / School /
Data / iPhone / Stay Informed

Insurance Review

• Formulary
  • Review your insurance formulary to make sure there are no changes in your prescription coverage. Many insurance companies change their preferred/tier 1 insulin between Humalog/Novolog/Admelog based on new contract pricing for the year.
• Renewals
  • Renew your prescriptions if necessary. Some insurance companies require new prescriptions every year, even if there are refills on file. This includes renewals of “Letters of Medical Necessity” as well.
• Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
  • Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) (i.e., Dexcom, Guardian Connect and Libre) and pump supplies are typically considered DME and cannot be purchase at a local pharmacy. Depending on your insurance, DMEs are covered through a medical supplier or through 90-day prescription benefits. Some insurance plans allow you to fill DME prescriptions through either a medical supplier or through the 90-day pharmacy. It is worth the effort to determine your cheapest price for DME supplies.
• Refill Dates
  • Auto Refill
    • Determine if your local pharmacy or 90-day prescription supplier offers auto refills. Adding this feature to your refills is a huge time saver through out the year.
  • Calendar
    • Consider starting a family calendar and note refills dates through out the year to keep needed supplies stocked.

FSA Dollars

• 2019 FSA Dollars
  • Check the balance on your 2019 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and if funds are present submit receipts or use the funds.
• 2020 FSA Dollars
  • Funds are available on January 1st for prescriptions and for some over the counter medications like glucose tabs, Blood Ketone Meter, Ketone Urine Test Strips and etc. Check your FSA list for your authorized over the counter supplies.

Diabetes Bag

• Clean
  • Completely empty the bag and wash it! Place the diabetes bag in a laundry mesh bag before placing in the washing machine and then set outside to air dry.
• Restock all supplies
  • Make sure your bag has all the necessary diabetes supplies.
  • Check expiration dates on medication, food, batteries, and low supplies.
• Replace your lancet
  • A new year means a new lancet. Seriously…consider the Accu-Check FastClix lancets for easy lancet changes.

Pump

• Pump Settings
  • Take pictures of your pump settings/basal rates for reference in case of a pump failure. This is also helpful if basal changes are made and you need to change back to previous basal rates.
  • Check that the time and date settings are correct.

Supply Closet

• Organize
  • Take out all supplies and reorganize by expiration date to ensure you are using the oldest supplies first before they expire.
  • Donate extra supplies that are not expired and discard expired medications/supplies.

School

• 504 Plans
  • Review your 504 Plan to make sure any recent changes are included in your plan. Also consider updating the 504 Plan to resolve any ongoing issues. 504 Plan updates are worth the effort to have a good year.
• School Orders
  • Make sure your school order on file with the Endo matches the 504 plan or request changes include any new updates.
• Medical Forms for Sports
  • Avoid the August rush for sport forms by getting them done early in the year. Sport forms are typically good for one year and can be completed in advance of spring/summer sports.

iPhone Clean Up

• Dexcom users that use an iPhone as a receiver can benefit from an iPhone clean-up
  • Storage Space – Dexcom requires open storage space to run and work properly. Check your storage space and delete any unnecessary applications if necessary.
  • Old Transmitters – unpair old transmitters in the Bluetooth settings. Old transmitters that remain as paired devices can effect your phone’s battery efficiency.
  • Medical ID – set up your Medical ID to help first responders access medical information from a locked iPhone screen.
  • Parental Controls – review parental controls to make sure your child’s phone is being used as intended.

Data Review

• CGM Data
  • Take time to log on to CGM reports like Clarity, Guardian Connect or LibreLink to review the data for basal rates and Insulin to Carb ratios (I:C).
  • Make a list of questions to ask the Endocrinologist about your data during your next appointment.
  • Review Time-in-Range and and set a goal to increase this number. Even if the increase is just 2% more because the A1C value is not the only number you should care about every three months.

Stay Informed

• Podcast
  • Juicebox Podcast
• Blog
  • Think Like a Pancreas
• Conferences
  • TCOYD
  • Children with Diabetes Friends for Life