diabetes Seniors Urged to Be Heart Smart

Diabetes Seniors Urged to Be Heart Smart

While February 14 is a day focused on celebrating Valentine’s
sweethearts, February marks “American Heart Month” and is dedicated to
spreading awareness about the importance of heart health. Health
Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT – News) is working to increase awareness regarding the
strong link between diabetes and heart disease and sharing steps
diabetic seniors can take to reduce their risk of heart disease.
According to the American Diabetes Association, adults with diabetes
have heart disease death rates that are from two to four times higher
than adults who aren’t diabetic.

“Statistics from the American Diabetes Association show that nearly 26
million Americans have diabetes; of that, nearly 11 million are 65 years
or older,” says Jonathan Scheff, M.D., chief medical officer for Health
Net, Inc. “That’s a significant portion of the population.”

He added, “Some plans, including Health Net, have recognized that their
Medicare Advantage members with diabetes require a unique model of care,
known as a special needs plan. This type of plan is designed to help
Medicare members manage their diabetes, and as a result, help to prevent
the development of conditions such as heart disease.” Scheff went on to
point out that a study published in the January 2012 issue of Health
Affairs found that diabetics enrolled in Medicare Advantage special
needs plans experienced reduced rates of hospitalization and hospital
readmissions as compared to individuals enrolled in original
fee-for-service Medicare plans.

Lowering the risk of heart disease

Through its “National Diabetes Education Program,” the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) is emphasizing the strong link
between diabetes and heart disease by noting that 65 percent of
diabetics die from heart disease and stroke. To lower the risk of heart
disease, HHS recommends that those with diabetes take these steps:

Reach and stay at a healthy weight – Being overweight is a risk
factor for both heart attacks and stroke. Strive to consume a
heart-healthy diet that includes at least 14 grams of fiber daily for
every 1,000 calories. Additionally, reduce saturated fat intake, keep
dietary cholesterol to less than 300 milligrams a day, and avoid trans
fat whenever possible. Opt for whole grains, fruits, vegetables,
fat-free or low-fat milk/milk products, lean meats, poultry and fish.
Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity – Aim for at least
30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. In addition to
planned exercise, also look for other physical activity opportunities,
such as taking the stairs instead of an elevator. Regardless of the
specific activity, exercise is an essential ingredient in maintaining
a healthy weight and blood pressure.
Stop smoking – Smoking doubles the risk of developing heart
disease. Quitting smoking is especially important for diabetics
because both smoking and diabetes narrow blood vessels. Smoking also
increases the risk of other long-term complications, such as eye
problems, and can damage blood vessels in the legs.
Keep cholesterol and blood pressure in check – Elevated
cholesterol and blood pressure increase the risk of heart disease. For
those with diabetes, LDL cholesterol should be less than 100
milligrams per deciliter, and blood pressure should be less than
130/80.

For more information about HHS’ “National Diabetes Education Program,”
visit ndep.nig.gov.
Visitors to Health Net’s website, www.healthnet.com,
also have access to the company’s Healthy Start program, a healthy
eating and exercise campaign for families. It is available free of
charge 24/7 so you can use it at your convenience and in the privacy of
your own home. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly can
help manage diabetes. Healthy Start offers website visitors educational
resources and tips to support healthy choices.

About Health Net

Health Net, Inc. is a publicly traded managed care organization that
delivers managed health care services through health plans and
government-sponsored managed care plans. Its mission is to help people
be healthy, secure and comfortable. The company provides and administers
health benefits to approximately 6.0 million individuals across the
country through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare
prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”), Medicaid,
Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs programs.
Health Net’s behavioral health services subsidiary, Managed Health
Network, Inc., provides behavioral health, substance abuse and employee
assistance programs to approximately 5.0 million individuals, including
Health Net’s own health plan members. The company’s subsidiaries also
offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and
offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region
employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded
benefits programs.

For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit Health Net’s
website at www.healthnet.com.

Diabetes & Diabetic Recipes with Bill & Sheila

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