FREE Diabetes Education for Patients Taking Multiple Shots Daily

FREE Diabetes Education for Patients Taking Multiple Shots Daily.
DATES: First Monday of each month
Location:  Dr. Caruso’s office
Educator:  Lynea Albers MEd, RD, CDE (916) 396-7678 (Omnipod employee)
Call or text to schedule appointment.

Medicare pays for continuous glucose sensors

But...there are a lot of rules. If you want a Dexcom you will order from Dexcom. If you want a Freestyle Libre you need to order through one of their partners.
Here are the rules:

• The beneficiary requires a therapeutic CGM. The beneficiary has diabetes mellitus; and,
• The beneficiary has been using a home blood glucose monitor (BGM) and performing frequent (four or more times a day) BGM testing and records are kept or meter is downloaded for 30 days; and,
• The beneficiary is insulin-treated with 3 or more daily injections (MDI) of insulin or a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pump; and,
• The beneficiary's insulin treatment regimen requires frequent adjustments by the beneficiary on the basis of therapeutic CGM testing results.
• Within six (6) months prior to ordering the CGM, the beneficiary had an in-person visit with the treating practitioner to evaluate their diabetes control and determine that the above criteria are met; and,
• Every six (6) months following the initial prescription of the CGM, the beneficiary has an in-person visit with the treating practitioner to assess adherence to their CGM regimen and diabetes treatment plan.

Happy to pass this along

Coming Soon! Adult Education Workshop

The Nevada Diabetes Association will be offering an Adult Diabetes Education Workshop in Reno this spring. This workshop will be field trip based one day, every 2 weeks, from February 15th, 2018 to April 26th, 2018.   Please take this anonymous survey so we may provide the best possible workshop for you.  Your feedback will be very helpful in the planning process.     Take this survey

 I am now providing a non-drug treatment for neuropathy, insomnia, anxiety and depression. It is called Alpha Stim. Treatment takes 20-30'. I will have you fill out a neuropathy pain score before and after treatment. These treatments will be $30 per session. I do not bill insurance for treatments alone. If you have a treatment done the same time as your appointment the fee will be included in your office charge. Please call for an appointment. My medical assistant will be providing this service on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If you want to order one for yourself I will be happy to provide a prescription for established patients only.
http://www.alpha-stim.com/

Live on-line support for T2 diabetes

The American Diabetes Association has a series of live webcasts for T2 diabetes. They are also available as podcasts if you don't have time for the live session. Past sessions are also recorded.
REGISTER TODAY! Visit diabetes.org/experts. Text EXPERTS to 828282 to register for the series.
QUESTIONS? Contact the ADA at 1-855-565-0595 or via email at askada@diabetes.org

Take care of your brain

There are ways to make your brain 'stronger'. This research in 2011 demonstrated visible improvements (on MRI) in brain structure after only 8 weeks of "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction".

Mindfulness is a concept that started in the 1970's and has grown steadily since then. It is the opposite of multitasking. you focus your mind on a single thing and actively exclude all other thoughts. In practice it is a form of meditation.

You can do the same thing! What makes it easy is the Muse brainwave sensing headband. This device gives you feedback on your thoughts. When you are focused on a single thing, your breath, you hear gentle sounds and even chirping birds. When you are distracted the wind, waves or rain will get louder as a reminder to focus your thought. 

When you buy this device direct from the developer you get a 60 day money back guarantee. You will need a smartphone or Ipad or Android tablet to run the app for the headband. Check to make sure your tablet or phone has the operating system necessary to run the app.

Too busy to blog

A lot has happened in the last 2 years. Here's a summary.

1. Ariana is in law school. My front desk person is Tammy Manke as of Aug 2017.

2. I have a Certified Diabetes Educator, Josh Quinn, 'on loan' from Medtronic. He is here on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month to co-manage people on Medronic/Minimed pumps and those wanting to start on the pump.

3. I have a medical assistant, Kaitlin Shonnard, here each Tuesday and Thursday to get your vital signs, update your medication list and upload your glucose meter or pump. Be sure to bring your meter. She has the app for uploading 26 different meters. 

4. If you need a coach for stress management, see Toni Caruso. The visit will be included with your appointment with me. I also have a device, a Muse headband, that facilitates stress management. You can demo the unit at the office any day I'm open. Bring your smartphone to run the app.

5. I have guest wifi available. Just ask when you're here.

6. I love my Medtronic 670G hybrid closed loop pump. It's reduced my hypoglycemia by 80-90%. Instead of averaging 1-2 h/day under 70 I'm down to 10-15' on the average. I can go days without a low.
7. I have a Facebook page for my office to announce when I'm out of the office, etc. Search For Dan Caruso MD on Facebook to stay up-to-date. Please don't use Facebook to communicate with me about your health care.
8. I also have a Yelp page. I'm not as attentive to it as I am Facebook.

Merry Christmas!