You may be the fittest you’ve ever been – doing your 10,000 steps and going to your exercise classes. But did you know that you may still be at risk for prediabetes? It can be shocking and scary to learn about your risk, however, if you don’t realize you are at risk it can really impact your lifestyle (and your life).
Here’s what you need to know about prediabetes and how using your health insurance can really help.
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a condition when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Almost 6 million Canadians have prediabetes. Although not everyone with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes, if its left unmanaged the odds are higher that it will. Today, over 3 million Canadians, or 8.9% of the population, have diagnosed diabetes – and unfortunately that number is consistently growing.
Symptoms, treatment, and complications from prediabetes may vary from person to person. This information from Diabetes Canada will help you learn more about this condition and provide you with helpful tools, supports, and resources.
You need a strategy now, and health insurance helps
What can you do if you have prediabetes? Taking steps to manage your blood sugar can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The key is a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy foods, medication if required, regular exercise and losing weight (if you are overweight or obese).
Here are key supports offered through your health and dental plan
Sessions with a Dietician
Dietitians are trained professionals who can provide evidence-based advice on nutrition and healthy eating habits. They can help you manage conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or chronic pain through proper nutrition, potentially reducing symptoms and improving your quality of life. They can also provide strategies and support to help you achieve your weight management goals.
Health insurance plans may cover some of the costs for your sessions – which can range from $80 to $500 depending on your needs. For more information on health insurance coverage for dieticians, click here.
Dental coverage
If you have prediabetes or diabetes, you need to take special precautions around your oral health. Sufficient dental care may not be fully covered under your provincial health plan, and it can be costly when you pay out of pocket. That’s why dental insurance should be part of your diabetes management plan.
People with prediabetes or diabetes often believe they will have a difficult time finding a health insurance plan that is affordable and covers the costs of diabetic testing equipment and medical supplies. The good news is that dental insurance plans are affordable, have no medical questions asked and acceptance is guaranteed. You can apply for coverage if you are between 18 and 80 years old, and your coverage is renewable for life. Plans can cover just you or you and your family; children under age 21 are considered dependents.
For more information on diabetes and health insurance coverage for dental coverage, click here.
Physical Therapy
When it comes to improving overall well-being in mind, body, and spirit so you can better address prediabetes, there are advantages available with physical therapies. Naturopathic doctors, Swedish and shiatsu massage performed by registered therapists and eastern-based acupuncture are just some of the options you can choose. These services are not covered by your government health plan, and you will be charged a fee, which may be partly covered by health insurance.
For more information on how to maximize benefits covered like massage, click here.
Mental health support
While treatment from a general practitioner will usually not cost you anything, expenses for other therapy to help you cope with life’s hurdles can really add up. Visits for counselling provided by a psychologist can help you think about your problems differently and give you ways to manage — and the fees charged can be covered under your health insurance, up to your plan’s annual maximum. Both in-person and virtual therapy sessions are typically eligible.
For more on mental health support costs that health insurance covers, click here.
Wellness tools
Health insurance delivers many “built in” tools so you can learn new ways to deal with the expected and unexpected in life including mindfulness tools, sleep, stress management and motivational programs to help focus on your weight management to achieve your health goals, plus access to recent articles on finding care, managing health, and preventing illness. There are also some plans, like Manulife Vitality, which offer motivational programs to help you focus and achieve your health goals.
How Manulife Vitality can help
Getting the right health and dental protection is an important step towards a healthier life – and Manulife wants you to live your longest, healthiest life. That’s why there’s Manulife Vitality; a program that helps you learn about and improve your health. It also rewards you for your healthy choices along the way!
With Manulife Vitality, you can create personalized weekly goals, take steps to achieve them and earn rewards. The more engaged you are and the healthier your choices, the more rewards you get.
Get Manulife Vitality when you start any Flexcare® or FollowMe™ Health & Dental plan for just $5/month.
For more information on Manulife Flexcare click here.
For information on Manulife FollowMe click here.
And, for more information on Vitality, click here.
Getting started on managing your prediabetes may feel overwhelming. But Vitality was the key to good health for Sukhminder V. Balancing two young children and work was overwhelming for Sukhminder . Now he’s using the Manulife Vitality program to stay accountable to his fitness, diet, and mental health. Watch him tell his story here.
Not sure which plan is right for you? We’re here to help.
At SBIS we are experts in the complex world of health insurance, helping people like you for over 30 years. You can learn about your health insurance options online or call us for a free telephone consultation and get sound guidance to help you figure out what coverage you do need from over 50 different health and dental insurance plan options. Our no-obligation quotes can help you determine how much to budget, and you can even buy online.
Ready to get started? Give us a call today at 1-800-667-0429 or 416-601-0429 Monday to Friday 8:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. eastern time.
