The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) indicates that the prevalence of diabetes in older Americans on Medicare is growing at an alarming rate. From 1980 to 2004, the number of people aged 65 or older with diagnosed diabetes increased from 2.3 million to 5.8 million. The American Diabetes Association estimates that nearly one-quarter of all Americans who have diabetes are age 60 years or older.
I recently heard that the CMS cited that 32% of Medicare spending is attributed to the diabetes population, noted Alan Weinstock, an insurance broker at www.MedicareSupplementPlans.com. New developments like this blood-sugar monitoring device could be a real help to these seniors.
New Implantable Sensor Measures Blood Sugar Continuously
A small wireless device could be the solution to the problem of blood-sugar monitoring for diabetics. And without the maintenance or finger pricking that generally goes along with the disease.
The company that developed the device is seeking permission from the Food and Drug Administration to launch a pilot study testing its implanted wireless sensor in about a dozen people with diabetes. The request came after researchers completed trials of the device on animals.
The trials were on pigs. The device worked in one pig for more than a year and in another for nearly 10 months with no trouble.
Diabetes Can Cause Complications in Old and Young Alike
Whether people with diabetes are on Medicare or not, the risk of complications is very real. Here are the most recent figures from the American Diabetes Association:
Heart disease and stroke
In 2004, 68% of diabetes-related deaths among people aged 65 years or older was from heart disease, 16% was from stroke.
Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes.
The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.
High blood pressure
In 20032004, 75% of adults with self-reported diabetes had blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mmHg or used prescription medications for hypertension.
Blindness
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 2074 years.
Diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year.
Kidney disease
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of new cases in 2005.
In 2005, 46,739 people with diabetes began treatment for end-stage kidney disease and 178,689 people with end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant.
Nervous system disease (Neuropathy)
Between 60% and 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage.
Amputation
Over 60% of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes.
Medicare covers inpatient and outpatient costs necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. In addition, Medicare covers diabetes management, screening, education, and supplies. There is no reason to let the disease go unchecked. And with this new device diabetes patients will soon have help.