MyBlue
A magazine for Medicare Plus BlueSM PPO
and Prescription BlueSM PDP members
Summer 2016
MEDICARE
Plunge in! Water
activities for fitness
and fun
Grab
colored your
pe
or mark ncils
e
and turn rs
t
Page 1 o
9!
Shop smart at the
farmers market
Prescription painkillers –
What you don’t know
can hurt you
Medicare Plus BlueSM and Prescription BlueSM are PPO and PDP plans with Medicare contracts.
Enrollment in Medicare Plus Blue and Prescription Blue depends on contract renewal.
Health and wellness or prevention information.
SUMMER 2016
Daniel J. Loepp
President and CEO
Julie Smith
Vice President,
Senior Business Division
Janita Gaulzetti
Manager, Medicare Market
Communications
Barbara Gillis
Editor, Medicare Market
Communications
Feature writer
Laura Hipshire
Editorial board
Jeff Coulter; Amy Howard;
Mary Jane Johnson;
Laurrie Knight, M.D.;
Kerri L. Larkin; Catherine McIntosh;
Kim Moon, PharmD;
Tiffany Moss; Maria Nair;
Adrienne Savage; Randy Smith;
Diane Sypien, R.N., M.S.H.A., PMP;
Carolyn Willemsen
We welcome your letters. Some articles may be reprinted
with permission. Please send your comments and requests for
additional copies and reprints to:
Editor, MyBlue Medicare —
Mail Code 0210
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
600 E. Lafayette Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48226-2998
MyBlue Medicare is meant to complement the advice of health
care professionals and is not intended to take the place of
professional medical care. Our recommendations are based on
best medical practice. Your specific contract may not cover the
cost of every procedure or treatment recommended. MyBlue
Medicare is mailed to our Medicare Plus Blue PPO and Prescription
Blue PDP subscribers. Our mailing list is confidential; we do not
share it with anyone.
Our website is www.bcbsm.com/medicare. While website
addresses for other organizations are provided throughout this
publication for members to use for additional information, Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Michigan does not control these sites and is
not responsible for their content.
Medicare PLUS
PPO
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is a nonprofit
corporation and independent licensee of the
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
2 MyBlue Medicare
Prescription
PDP
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is a nonprofit
corporation and independent licensee of the
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
contents
8
6
4
12
14
17
4Right on target: Breast cancer survivor practices archery with precision and passion
6 Plunge in! Water activities for fitness and fun
8 Shop smart at the farmers market
9 Healthy recipes
10The Doctor’s Office: Have you had your annual wellness visit yet?
11The Corner Pharmacy: Prescription painkillers – What you don’t know can hurt you
12 Home sweet home: Partner with your primary care doctor after a hospital stay
13 Take advantage of support after a hospital stay
14 Supercharge your health with preventive care
16Advance directives: It’s never too early to make your wishes known
17 Strike out diabetes complications
18 Caregivers need caring, too
19 Get creative with grown-up coloring books
Back cover
It’s easy to go paperless
Summer 2016 3
Breast cancer survivor practices archery with precision and passion
Right on target
Dee Jackson and her
husband, Jack, love to shoot
bows together.
L
ast Christmas, while other families were
indoors opening presents and eating dinner
together, member Delores “Dee” Jackson,
77, and her loved ones were shooting bows on her
sprawling property in Jackson, Michigan.
“It was sunny and in the 60s,” says Dee, who has
been practicing archery since 2013.
Dee uses a custom-made bow, adorned with a
pink ribbon molded in the riser. She received the
bow in 2013 as a gift from her son John to honor her
strength after beating breast cancer 11 years ago.
“I was so touched by the gift that I was bound and
determined to learn how to shoot and do it well,”
says Dee.
4 MyBlue Medicare
A family affair
Her husband, Jack, and two sons, John and Jeff, are
all excellent archers.
“Their grandfather (my husband’s father) and my
husband have always shot bows. Our sons learned it
at a very early age,” says Dee.
Her son John manufactures and sells archery
equipment, and even invented two games called
Hoverball and Archery Tag.
“Archery Tag is just like paintball, except you
shoot each other with foam-tipped arrows,” says Dee.
Dee, a retired interior designer, typically shoots
her bow using hard-tipped arrows aimed at paper
plate targets in her backyard.
“If you’re doing archery, you can’t be thinking
about anything else but just enjoying that and the
company and friendships. It’s a wonderful thing to
do; it’s an accomplishment,” says Dee, who often
attends archery trade shows with her son and
husband.
“We love going and being part of his business. We
teach people, mainly children, how to shoot a bow
with a nonlethal (soft-tipped) arrow. It gives you
such a sense of joy when you see the look on their
faces when they’re doing this,” Dee says.
Couple keeps active
Dee and Jack are also avid ballroom dancers,
occasionally performing at local senior centers.
“We belong to several dance clubs — dancing is
our passion. We like the rumba, the tango, the waltz
and the two-step. It’s great exercise. My husband
thinks he’s John Travolta. I try to tell him he is,” says
Dee, laughing.
The couple, who have been married 57 years, also
enjoys skiing and bike riding. “Our lives are wild and
exciting … we’re always on the go. Every day is a gift
and something to enjoy. I have a lot to be thankful
for — a wonderful husband and family, and my
health,” says Dee.
Living for today
“Before I had cancer, I enjoyed life,” says Dee. “Now
I treasure it. That’s why I’m going for the gusto.
You don’t look back on your life and say, ‘I should
have worked harder and longer.’ My advice to
people is just go for it, just do it! You won’t regret
it. It’s challenging. We all have our special interests.
Whatever your interest is — pursue it.”
Archery benefits the body and mind
According to the National Field Archery Association, archery helps improve:
1. Focus
2. Hand-eye coordination
3. Upper-body strength
4. Social skills
5. Confidence
Archery, which can be traced back to
the Stone Age, is more than just a
sport you tried at summer camp. If
you’re aiming for good health, give
it a shot. You might like it!
Source: National Field Archery
Association
Summer 2016 5
Plunge
in!
Water activities for fitness and fun
A
re you a regular exerciser who wants to shake
up your routine or a beginner looking for a
great place to start? Maybe you want to ease
back into exercise following an injury or manage the
effects of a chronic health condition. Whatever your
goals, why not take your workout to the water?
6 MyBlue Medicare
Just add water
Like land-based workouts, water-based workouts
can strengthen your heart, build muscular
strength and endurance, improve flexibility and
balance, and aid in weight management. But
unlike exercising on land, exercising in water is
!
easier on your joints because water’s buoyancy reduces the impact of
activities such as walking, jogging and jumping. And because water
provides more resistance than air, moving through water tones and
strengthens muscles without weights.
More than laps
For exercisers looking to get their feet wet, swimming is just one
option. You don’t have to be a swimmer to try exercising in the water
because the activities are done in the shallow end of the pool. Here are
some to explore:
• Water walking provides cardio and muscle-toning benefits. Test the
waters: Begin with five minutes of slow walking in waist-deep water.
Keeping your shoulders back, your chest lifted, your buttocks and
abs tucked and your arms bent slightly at your sides, step forward,
placing your whole foot on the bottom of the pool heel first.
• Water strength training involves using water resistance, water
exercise equipment or both to build strength. Test the waters: Do this
exercise to strengthen your abs and back.
–
Stand facing the pool wall with your hands resting on the pool
edge, shoulder-width apart.
–
Walk your feet back from the wall and bend slightly at the hips,
standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and flat on the
bottom.
–
While contracting your abs and buttocks, raise one arm overhead
while lifting the opposite leg behind you.
–
Hold for several seconds, then repeat with the other arm and leg.
Do this eight times on each side.
• Water aerobics uses routines set to music to burn calories and
tone muscles.
• Water yoga, water pilates and water tai chi take familiar moves to
the pool to promote strength, balance, flexibility and relaxation. Test
the waters: Check with your local pool or health club to find a class.
No matter what your fitness level or goals, there’s a water activity for you.
Come on in … the water’s fine.
Quench your
thirst this
summer
Warmer weather makes your
body lose water faster, so it’s even
more important to stay hydrated
in the summer months. Drinking
six to eight 8-ounce glasses of
water each day is a good goal.
Besides water, you can get the
fluid you need by drinking fruit
and vegetable juices, milk and
herbal tea and by eating plenty
of fruits and veggies. Avoid black
tea, coffee and other caffeinated
beverages, which can dehydrate
you. Turn to Page 9 for two
summer beverage recipes to get
you started.
If you have kidney or
congestive heart failure, you may
have limitations on how much
water you should drink each day.
Follow your doctor’s directions
when it comes to hydration.
Sources include: American Red Cross; Fantastic Water Workouts: Proven Exercises and
Routines for Toning, Fitness and Health; U.S. Water Fitness Association
Summer 2016 7
Shop smart at the
farmers market
C
raving a refreshing summer beverage
that’ll quench your thirst and satisfy your
taste buds? If you’re in the mood for a
smoothie or a delicious glass of flavored water,
then head to your local farmers market.
Here are a few reasons the farmers market
may be the right place to pick produce for your
summer drink:
• It tastes better. Farmers pick produce at its
peak, when it’s ripe and delicious.
• It’s healthier. Fresh fruits and vegetables
contain healthy antioxidants and nutrients.
And farmers are less likely to treat the produce
they sell at the farmers market with pesticides.
The farmers may also be on hand to tell you
how they grow their produce.
• There’s more variety. You’ll find a greater
array of produce at the farmers market than at
your supermarket. Make an effort to try a new,
colorful fruit or vegetable every time.
• It’s better for the environment. The food at
a farmers market comes from farms close to
where you live. This means it travels a much
shorter distance to get to your plate or glass,
which could translate to lower costs.
• You’ll support your local economy. The
vendors at farmers markets usually grow their
produce close by, so you’ll be doing your part
to help their businesses.
Find the best fruits and veggies
As you walk through the farmers market, use
these tips for selecting quality produce:
• Cantaloupe. Look for a rind that’s light green
or turning yellow and has a sweet aroma.
• Watermelon. Check for a smooth surface and
rounded ends.
• Blueberries. Pick plump, firm berries with a
dark blue color.
• Eggplant. The purple plant should feel heavy
and smooth, and have no dark brown spots.
• Broccoli. A fresh stalk is brightly colored
while the head is compact and firm without
any flowering.
• Berries. Select those that are brightly colored,
have a natural shine and show no signs of
bruises or mold.
To find a farmers market near you, visit
www.localharvest.org.
Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; Center for Urban Education About
Sustainable Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture
8 MyBlue Medicare
Healthy
re ci pe s
Cucumber, Lime and Mint-Infused Water
Servings: 8
1 cup sliced, seedless cucumber
(about 1 medium cucumber),
reserving 8 slices for garnish
3 limes, sliced, reserving 1 sliced
lime for garnish
1 small bunch of mint, reserving 8
small sprigs for garnish
8 cups cold or room-temperature
water
Ice
1. Wash cucumber, mint and limes
in fresh water.
2. Place ½ cup cucumber slices
(about 8 to 10 slices), 2 sliced
limes and the small bunch of
mint in a pitcher. Pour 8 cups of
water over the cucumber, lime
and mint.
3. Refrigerate for 4 hours. To serve,
pour 1 cup of infused water over
ice in a glass. Garnish glass with 1
cucumber slice from the reserved
vegetable, 1 lime slice from the
reserved fruit and 1 sprig of mint.
For infused water to taste its
freshest, drink it within 3 days and
keep it refrigerated. If you don’t plan
to drink your infused water the day
you make it, remove the fruit and
vegetable slices after 8 hours so that
the water doesn’t become bitter.
Nutritional information per serving:
4 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat,
0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0.5 mg
sodium, 1.5 g carbohydrates, 0.5 g
sugar, 0.07 g fiber, 0.07 g protein
Peach and Carrot Smoothie
Servings: 2
2 peaches, pitted and halved,
peeled or unpeeled
1 medium carrot, top removed,
peeled or unpeeled
8 ice cubes (about 1 cup)
3 large strawberries, tops
removed (about ½ cup)
1 tbsp. honey
1 tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. cinnamon
1. Wash all produce in fresh water.
2. Place all ingredients in a blender
and blend on high for 2 minutes.
3. Divide into 2 glasses. Garnish
each with a strawberry.
Nutritional information per serving:
138 calories, 1 g fat, 0 g saturated fat,
0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol,
45 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrates,
27 g sugar, 5 g fiber, 2 g protein
For garnish: 2 strawberries, cut
halfway down the middle
Summer 2016 9
The Doctor’s Office
Have you had your annual
wellness visit yet?
S
cheduling an annual wellness visit is key to
staying healthy. This visit lets you and your
primary care doctor talk about your health
concerns, go over your health history and consider
preventive screenings and services to help keep you
well. If you haven’t already done so, there’s still time
to schedule a wellness visit this year.
A wellness visit can help you stay on the road
to better health. Call your doctor to make an
appointment today.
Take notes
Once you’ve made an appointment, it’s important to
be prepared. If you have existing health problems or
noticed changes in your condition, write down when
the change began and what’s different from how you
felt before.
Bring a list of your current medications, with the
doses, how often they’re taken and who prescribed
them. Include any over-the-counter medications and
supplements.
What to expect
Your wellness visit isn’t a full physical exam. Instead,
this visit is a planning or strategy session designed to
keep you healthy.
• Your doctor will record your blood pressure,
vision, weight and height.
• Your doctor will ask questions to determine your
risk for certain health conditions.
• Depending on your needs, you may also get
necessary medical treatment, advice for making
lifestyle changes or a new prescription.
• You’ll discuss which preventive screenings and
tests you should get. (For more information on
screenings, turn to Pages 14 and 15.)
Laurrie Knight, M.D., is
associate medical director of the
Senior Business Division at Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
10 MyBlue Medicare
Your partner in care
Building a relationship with your primary care
doctor helps you get the best possible care.
Your doctor gets to know you, your family
history and your medical history. Your doctor
also keeps track of your screenings and can
remind you to schedule them. Should you need
to see a specialist, your primary care doctor can
recommend one.
If you need a primary care doctor, visit
www.bcbsm.com/medicare and click on
Find a Doctor. Call the doctor’s office to
verify that they are accepting new patients.
Sources include: Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention; Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services; National Institutes of
Health; U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services
The Corner Pharmacy
Prescription painkillers – What you
don’t know can hurt you
O
pioids (oh-pee-oyds) are powerful drugs
prescribed for pain relief following surgery
or an injury or for cancer pain. When taken
properly, these painkillers can be effective and safe.
It’s important to respect their power. Every day
in the U.S., between 40 and 50 people die of opioid
overdose. Misuse can also lead to addiction.
poisonings and misuse. And if your pain goes away
before your prescription runs out, dispose of extra
pills or patches properly. In many communities, you
can drop off unused drugs at the police station, or
there may be scheduled “drug take-back” days.
Be smart about opioids and be safe.
Here are four things to know if you take
an opioid:
1
For certain chronic pain conditions, opioids
may not be effective. Opioids are most
appropriate for short-term use. If you take an
opioid long term, be aware that your body may get
used to the drug, so you need higher and higher
doses to get the same relief.
2
Opioids have many side effects. And the side
effects may be worse than the pain. Unpleasant
side effects include constipation, nausea, feeling
“foggy” and difficulty urinating.
3
Not following your doctor’s exact
instructions can be a prescription for trouble.
Don’t increase your dose or take doses sooner than
you should. Check with your doctor or pharmacist
to make sure other medications you take are OK
to use while you’re taking the opioid. For example,
mixing alcohol, sleeping pills, muscle relaxants or
antianxiety drugs with opioids puts you at risk for
accidental overdose.
4
Sharing opioids can be deadly. Access to
an older family member’s prescription drugs
is a leading cause of accidental poisoning in
young children. Other people who live in or have
access to your house, such as teenage children or
grandchildren, may seek prescription painkillers
for recreational use or to self-medicate. Keep
your medication locked up to prevent accidental
Common opioids
•Codeine
•Demerol®
• Fentanyl (Duragesic®)
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin®)
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)
•Methadone
•Morphine
• Oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®)
Sources include: American Academy of Pain
Medicine; Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention; U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services
Kim Moon, PharmD, is a
clinical pharmacist for Medicare
Pharmacy Services at Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Michigan.
Summer 2016 11
A
fter a hospital stay, you
may feel like you’ve
been checked from your
head to your feet. The last thing
you want to do is see another
doctor or end up back in the
hospital. But you should make an
appointment with your primary
care doctor within seven days of
coming home from the hospital.
Here’s why.
Make the connection
Meeting with your primary care
doctor soon after you go home
from the hospital gives you a
chance to ask questions you may
have about your follow-up care
and to prevent another hospital
stay. It also lets your doctor identify
anything that could be standing in
the way of your recovery.
Partner with your primary care
doctor after a hospital stay
Avoid medication mix-ups
While you were in the hospital,
you may have started taking
new medications or temporarily
stopped taking some of your
regular medications. Nearly half
of patients 65 and older have
mistakes in their medication
regimens after leaving the
hospital. Many of these mistakes
happen because the doctors
treating you in the hospital may
not have complete information
about the medications you
were taking before admission.
Because of this, the medication
regimen you are sent home with
may contain errors. When you
follow up with your doctor, take a
complete list of all the medications
you’re currently taking.
Your doctor can do a “before and
after” check, looking for duplicate
or dropped meds, incorrect dosages
and potentially harmful drug
combinations. This can help you
avoid a setback due to a medication
mix-up. If you have any questions
about your medications or how
to take them, give your doctor or
pharmacist a call.
It’s true — one out of five Medicare
patients goes back to the hospital
within a month of coming
home, often due to avoidable
complications. After you check out
of the hospital, remember to check
in with your primary care doctor.
It’s a simple step that can increase
your chances for a speedy recovery.
Sources include: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; American Nurse Today;
International Journal of Family Medicine; Journal of Hospital Medicine
12 MyBlue Medicare
Take advantage of support after a hospital stay
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Care Transition to Home program is a shortterm program to help you move safely from the hospital to home and avoid
hospital readmission or going back to the emergency room. It’s included with
your Blue Cross Medicare plan.
After a hospital stay, a Blue Cross® Health & Wellness nurse case
manager will check up on you during your first 30 days at home.
The nurse will help you coordinate follow-up care with your
doctor and follow your medication plan. The nurse will also
make sure you receive needed home health care services, such
as physical or occupational therapy, and learn how best to
manage your care.
To find out more about this program, please call the Blue Cross
Engagement Center at 1-800-775-BLUE (2583), Monday through
Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. TTY users should call 1-800-240-3050.
Know someone turning 65?
Tell them why you chose
Medicare Plus BlueSM PPO.
Medicare PLUS
PPO
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is a nonprofit
www.bcbsm.com/medicare
corporation and independent licensee of the
• Monthly premiums starting as low as $16 including prescription
drug coverage
• Flexibility to choose providers in-network or out, with greater
savings in-network
• Nationwide coverage and worldwide emergency care
• Most plans include access to SilverSneakers® Fitness
program benefits
For individual coverage, call 1-855-339-9233 from 8 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. TTY users should call 711.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Medicare Plus BlueSM is a PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Medicare Plus Blue depends on contract
renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations,
copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay
your Medicare Part B premium. Healthways and SilverSneakers are registered trademarks of Healthways, Inc.
and/or its subsidiaries. © 2016 Healthways, Inc. All rights reserved. Blue Cross and BCN Advantage HMO-POS
and HMO contract with Healthways to offer the SilverSneakers fitness program benefit. Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Michigan is a nonprofit corporation and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
DP-011316B
BCB135519_MyBlueMedicare_Spring_F2.indd 1
H9572_S_16SprAgeInAdMBM CMS Accepted 01092016
Summer 2016 13
1/15/16 10:09 AM
Supercharge your health with
P
reventive care is an important part of healthy
living. It can help you stay healthier and
independent longer. However, only 25 percent
of adults ages 50 to 64 and fewer than 50 percent
of adults 65 or older are up-to-date on preventive
services and health screenings. Are you? Read on,
then talk with your doctor about what screenings are
right for you.
❏Health exam. Having regular checkups can keep
you healthy. Your doctor will assess your health,
and together you can make a plan to stay as
healthy as possible.
❏Blood pressure screening. Without a screening,
you won’t know if you have high blood pressure.
High blood pressure doesn’t usually cause any
symptoms, so you may not know your readings
are high unless you’re checked. It’s important
because high blood pressure can cause serious
health problems, including stroke, heart attack
and kidney failure. Regular blood pressure
screenings help your doctor monitor your health
and make lifestyle suggestions if needed.
❏Diabetes screening. Regular screenings for
diabetes allow your doctor to assess your risk and
recommend lifestyle changes. You can prevent or
delay diabetes by being active, eating healthy
and maintaining a healthy weight.
❏Colon cancer screening. Screenings can
identify precancerous growths so doctors
can remove them before cancer
develops. These tests can also detect
colon cancer in its early stages, when
treatment is more successful.
❏Cholesterol and lipid screening.
Most people don’t know if their
levels are high without getting a
test. If your results are too high or
if you’re at risk, your doctor will
14 MyBlue Medicare
monitor your levels and suggest lifestyle changes
to lower them. High cholesterol and lipid levels
increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss
other preventive care and services based on your age,
gender, family history and other risk factors. Taking
advantage of preventive care puts you in charge of
your health.
preventive care
Preventive screenings and services for men and women
What
Age
How often
Blood pressure screening
All adults
At least annually and at every doctor visit if
you have high blood pressure
Diabetes screening
40-70
At least annually for individuals who:
• Are overweight
• Have a family history of diabetes
• Are physically inactive
• Have a history of high blood pressure
Osteoporosis
Women, 65 and older
Men, 70 and older
Every two years
Colon cancer screening
50-75
You and your doctor can decide which one of
these screenings is right for you:
• Fecal occult blood test every year
• Sigmoidoscopy every five years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years
76 and older
Ask your doctor
Flu shot
All adults
Annually
Pneumonia vaccine
65 and older
Ask your doctor
Preventive screenings for men
What
Age
How often
Prostate cancer
50-74
Ask your doctor
Preventive screenings for women
What
Age
Cervical cancer Pap smear 21-65
Mammography
How often
Every three years after becoming sexually
active; not needed after a hysterectomy
66 and older
Ask your doctor; not needed after a
hysterectomy
50-74
Every two years
75 and older
Ask your doctor
Sources include: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services
Summer 2016 15
Advance directives:
It’s never too early to make your wishes known
O
nly about one in five
Americans has an
advance directive. This
document explains the kind of
medical care you want — or don’t
want — at the end of your life.
Without an advance directive,
family members and doctors will
make health care decisions for you
without your input if you can no
longer make your own decisions.
Examples of advance
directives
One type of advance directive
provides detailed instructions
about your treatment preferences
if you are incapacitated and
require medical care to stay alive.
Another form of an advance
directive is called a medical power
of attorney. In this document, you
name a trusted relative or friend
to make treatment decisions for
you if necessary. This document
is sometimes called a “durable
power of attorney for health care”
or “health care proxy.” A medical
power of attorney may simply
name your decision maker, but it
can also include your preferences
for end-of-life care.
Set up an advance directive
Start by talking with your family
members and your doctor. You
may also want to get advice from
your lawyer or research advance
directives on the Internet. You
don’t need a lawyer to develop
an advance directive, but it must
comply with the law in your
state. And you must sign it in the
presence of witnesses.
Be sure to give a copy of
your advance directive to the
person you’ve designated as your
substitute decision maker. You
should also give copies to your
attorney, family members or
friends. You may want to give a
copy to your doctor as well. You
can revise your advance directive
at any time.
It’s well worth preparing an
advance directive when you’re
healthy, experts say. You help ease
your family members’ burden if
they know your wishes. Waiting
until an illness or accident strikes
can make it more difficult to make
careful decisions.
Advance directive laws
differ by state. Visit the
National Healthcare
Decisions Day website
at www.nhdd.org and
click on Get your advance
directive.
Sources include: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; American Family Physician;
New England Journal of Medicine
16 MyBlue Medicare
Strike
out
diabetes complications
I
magine the future. Are you still
healthy and enjoying watching
baseball games? If you have
diabetes, a few tests now can help
you answer yes to that question
later in life.
What’s your batting average?
The hemoglobin A1c test shows
your average blood glucose level
during the past two to three
months. It’s like a hitter’s batting
average over a season. Daily blood
glucose readings can be high one
day and low the next. But the A1c
test looks at your glucose level
over time. That’s why it’s a good
gauge of how well your diabetes is
being controlled.
Talk with your doctor about
your A1c goal. For most adult
diabetics, the target is an A1c of
7 or lower.
Keep your eye on the ball
One common diabetes
complication is the eye disease
retinopathy. Retinopathy can
cause vision loss and blindness
if untreated. Other eye
complications include cataracts
and glaucoma.
Early detection and treatment
can keep your vision sharp. If
you have diabetes, schedule a
comprehensive exam with an eye
doctor at least once a year.
You may need other exams
to monitor your diabetes
and prevent complications,
including:
•A urine test once a year. The
test measures protein levels
in your urine. Small increases
of one protein could mean
your kidneys aren’t working
properly.
•A blood pressure check at
every doctor visit.
•A foot exam once a year.
Regular exams help prevent
damage that results from
neuropathy, a loss of feeling in
your feet.
Diabetes can cause serious
health problems. Stay in the
game. You can prevent these
problems by having regular
tests and following your doctor’s
treatment plan.
Sources include: American
Diabetes Association; National
Institutes of Health
You may need to take a cholesterol-lowering drug called a statin — even if you don’t have high
cholesterol or heart disease. Studies show the use of statins in diabetics prevents cardiac disease.
Follow your doctor’s directions when taking a statin. Don’t stop taking it without your doctor’s OK.
Summer 2016 17
Caregivers
need caring, too
I
f you help a loved one who is elderly, ill or
disabled, you’re a caregiver. Even though the
bathing, feeding and other assistance you provide
is a labor of love, this “job” can take its toll.
Studies show an estimated 46 to 59 percent of
caregivers deal with depression. Other reports show
many caregivers don’t take care of themselves, which
puts them at risk for health problems.
Take care of yourself
It’s important to manage your stress and protect your
health. Remember to:
• Get enough sleep, eat well and schedule regular
health appointments.
• Set aside time for regular exercise.
• Keep up your hobbies, interests and friendships.
If you can’t get out much, have friends bring over
dinner or a movie.
• Join a support group in person or online.
• Realize that it’s OK to lose your patience
sometimes. Vent your feelings to a trusted friend
or keep a journal.
• Be aware of the signs of depression, such as
crying, loneliness and changes in sleeping or
eating habits. Talk with your doctor if you think
you have a problem.
Spread the responsibility
You can quickly burn out if you try to do everything
yourself. Consider these tips:
✓Develop a schedule that spreads caregiving or
household chores among family members and
friends. For example, ask older children to help
feed a disabled or ill relative.
✓Take time to pinpoint the aspects of caregiving
that seem the most difficult and demanding. You
may find you could use extra help with shopping,
meal preparation, cleaning or driving. Look into
local adult day-care programs, home care and
other services that can help. To find local services,
visit www.eldercare.gov or call 1-800-677-1116.
Your local Area Agency on Aging may be able to
help, too.
Remember: To care for another, you have to first take
care of yourself.
Sources include: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Family Physician;
American Journal of Public Health; Family Caregiver Alliance; National Institute on Aging
18 MyBlue Medicare
Get
creative
with grown-up coloring books
Time to pull out your crayons, markers and colored pencils.
Coloring books are a great way to relax and exercise your
creativity. These books frequently include
complex designs such as geometric patterns,
butterflies and landscapes. According
to a study in Art Therapy: Journal of
the American Art Therapy Association,
coloring detailed designs might even
ward off anxiety.
TR
Colored Y IT
p
tipped m encils or finearkers w
ill work
best to
color th
is desig
n.
Summer 2016 19
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Blue Cross
Blue Shield of
Michigan
MyBlue Medicare — Mail Code 0210
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
600 E. Lafayette Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48226-2998
CB 11369 JUL 16
H9572 S5584_O_MyBlueSummer16 FVNR 0716
10373M Developed by StayWell
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documents we send … and we heard you. Sign up
for paperless documents today. It’s quick and easy.
These documents are available on our secure
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• Annual Notice of Change — Tells you what
is changing in your plan from this year to
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• E
xplanation of Benefits — Gives you a
summary of your claims and costs
•
Evidence of Coverage — Gives you details
about what your plan covers, how much you
pay and more
•
Drug List (if you have Part D drug coverage
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•
Resource Guide — Gives you an overview of
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