Academy Award® winner
Olympia Dukakis and her husband, actor Louis Zorich, along with Novo Nordisk have
teamed up to encourage adults 65 or older to ask their healthcare professional for
the Medicare diabetes test. For many, it's free and it's easy. Knowing your blood
sugar levels is important for everyone.
Why get the Free Diabetes Screening?
Older adults are particularly at risk for type 2 diabetes. Approximately 1 in 4
adults age 65 or older have diabetes. So take a minute out of your busy day and
ask your healthcare provider if you qualify for a free Medicare diabetes screening.
Since 2005, Medicare has offered free diabetes screening services to those at risk
for diabetes; however, utilization has been low. Older adults who may be at risk
are not taking advantage of the benefit and many are undiagnosed.
What does the free Medicare diabetes test include?
The Medicare diabetes screening benefit includes the fasting blood glucose test.
The result of the test is reported with a number which can tell you whether or not
you have diabetes. Blood glucose test results may also tell you that you have a
condition called prediabetes, meaning you have blood sugar levels that are higher
than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
Medicare also covers the oral glucose tolerance test. A healthcare professional
may recommend it if he or she suspects diabetes in cases where a patient's fasting
blood glucose level is normal. The test is more time-consuming and complicated than
the fasting blood glucose test. If the number is less than 140, your blood glucose
is in the normal range. If the number is between 140 and 199, your blood glucose
is in a range for prediabetes.
For more information:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Includes the latest information on Medicare enrollment, benefits, and other helpful
tools.