Diabetes and Health Insurance Deep Dive: Part 1
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Diabetes and Health Insurance Deep Dive: Part 1

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that's far more widespread than most people realize. This summer, a shocking new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that a third of all Americans have prediabetes (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "More than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes," July 2017). As a result, the number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes is always on the verge of rising.

Diabetes could have an effect on your ability to procure life or health insurance. In this series, we will take a closer look at this disease and the effect it can have on your acquiring Medicare and/or life insurance.

In the first part of this series, we will examine specifically the disease itself.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that prevents your body from properly processing glucose, or blood sugar. While glucose is an important energy source, especially for the brain, it can cause problems when left unchecked.

There are two main types of diabetes. Type One Diabetes happens for an unknown reason, although it is largely thought to be based on genetic susceptibility. It is usually found in children and young adults. Type Two Diabetes, the most common form, is the result of poor diet, as well as genetics.

In both cases, the body is no longer able to use insulin properly regulate glucose levels. Insulin, a natural hormone, is either no longer being produced in adequate amounts (Type One), or the body has developed an immunity to insulin, which means you need an amount far above what your body can produce in order to regulate glucose (Type Two).

What Is Prediabetes?

In 2015, 84.1 million Americans, age 18 and older, had prediabetes (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "More than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes," July 2017). Prediabetes occurs when your body begins to acquire a tolerance to insulin. Your body then ramps up production of insulin to combat your increasing tolerance. 

The key distinction here is that your body may recover from prediabetes. With the proper healthy lifestyle and preventative health services, you may be able to keep prediabetes from escalating to the point of no return. Currently, there is no cure for diabetes, which means you will require lifelong treatment to keep the condition under control. People with prediabetes are at a higher risk for Type Two, heart disease, and stroke. 

How Can You Try To Prevent Diabetes?

Small steps can make a huge difference if you have been diagnosed with prediabetes. Incorporating small, healthy habits into your lifestyle may help stall or even reverse the development of your body's insulin immunity. Going for a few walks per week and replacing sugary treats with fiber rich fruits and vegetables may have a positive impact. 
Diabetes is a widespread problem, affecting the lives of millions. Every year, 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "More than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes," July 2017). It could have severe consequences for your health, your lifestyle, and your medical and life insurance coverage and premiums. In the next installment of this three-part series, we will examine the intersection of diabetes and Medicare.


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