diabetic supplies
Is a CGM FSA Eligible?
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are life-changing tools for many individuals living with diabetes. Their real-time insights empower people to effectively manage blood sugar levels and avoid dangerous highs and lows. While CGMs make diabetes management easier, navigating how to pay for them—especially when it comes to insurance and medical benefits, can be confusing. US MED…
Comparing the Best Insulin Pumps: Features, Pros, and Cons for Managing Diabetes
What is the Best Insulin Pump for Your Diabetic Needs? Diabetes is a serious condition, and more people than ever are dealing with this disease today. According to the CDC, the number of adults with diabetes has doubled in the past two decades. Everyone with type 1 diabetes (and more than a few people with…
How to Apply a CGM Sensor
It’s no secret that continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are popular among people with diabetes these days. If you’re wondering, “how is CGM inserted?,” keep reading for a complete guide to CGM installation and more.
Managing Diabetes When You’re Sick: Essential Tips
Many aspects of everyday life are more difficult when you’re managing diabetes, and that includes taking care of other illnesses. While colds and the flu can be inconvenient for anyone, having diabetes can increase your odds of getting seriously sick. Meanwhile, these conditions put extra stress on your body, potentially increasing your blood sugar levels…
Best Blood Glucose Meters for 2024 | A Curated Guide
For people with diabetes, blood glucose meters aren’t just helpful—these devices are an essential component of any worthwhile diabetes management strategy. Still, some glucometers are better than others, so we’re here to shine a light on the best glucose meters on the market. And since you’ll be using your meter so often, it’s wise to…
Main Differences Between the Freestyle Libre 3 vs 2
Learn the key distinctions between Abbott’s latest continuous glucose monitoring systems in this guide with US MED.
Traveling with Diabetes: Tips for a Smooth Journey and Blood Sugar Control
Planning a trip is stressful, but managing your diabetes makes it even more challenging. US MED has all the tips you need, so you can get into vacation mode.
How To Check Blood Sugar Levels
What does the future of blood sugar testing hold? We explore some of the experimental methods that may be commonplace one day and also review the tried and true glucometers on the market today.
Plan Your Diabetes Safe Exercise Routine
Create the Right Exercise Routine Exercise–everyone knows how vital it is to your health and well-being. But why is it so difficult to make regular exercise a habit? Let’s talk about creating a diabetes-friendly exercise routine that can become a part of your day-to-day lifestyle. The key is the make part of your daily plan.…
How to Keep Injection Sites Healthy
Studies found that almost 2/3 of all people who inject insulin have some degree of lipohypertrophy, which is thickening or rubbery skin at injection sites. Here we’ll discuss ways to avoid lipo and what insulin users need to look out for.
CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring) A Beginner’s Guide.
When you live with diabetes a common term you might hear is Continuous Glucose Monitoring, also known as CGM. For the uninitiated to the world of diabetes management, using a CGM might seem an overwhelmingly daunting task. All types of questions can present you with a challenge, but you’re not alone! Read on for answers…
The Effects of Smoking & Diabetes
Cardiovascular Disease Smokers have a 30-40% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes over non-smokers. Smoking also makes it difficult to control the disease and determine proper insulin dosage since it makes your body more resistant to insulin leading to higher glucose levels. The more prevalent the smoking habit is, the higher the risk of…
Vitamin D vs. Diabetes
With diabetes on it’s meteoric rise, new innovations are being discovered to help quell it’s rising numbers. New research is looking into vitamin D as a possible treatment option for the now 30 million people living with type 2 diabetes in the U.S. Obesity is rising as well, raising type 2 diabetes risk factors that…
The Medicare Competitive Bid Program
As a component of the Center of Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Competitive Bidding Program, diabetes testing supplies (DTS) are provided through mail order at a substantial discount for people with diabetes (PWD). PWD must be enlisted in Medicare Part B to qualify for mail order service. Covered DTS include blood glucose meters, replacement batteries for…
9 Steps to Better Catheter Self-Management
We share the 9 steps that every catheter user should know. Self-manage your catheter with these safety steps.
DIABETES ALERT! DAY
What’s Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk? One in three American adults is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a serious disease that can lead to complications like kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness, and amputations. But type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be permanent-it can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle modifications. The…
Top 10 Reasons To Use Your CPAP Machine
Around 25 million Americans experience OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), and approximately 60% of them actually utilize a CPAP machine nightly. Incorporating CPAP therapy can be difficult, but OSA is a risky condition that does not improve on it’s own. Here are some top ten reasons to make CPAP a part of your nightly ritual: 1.…
Advantages of Wearing a Back Brace
Chronic back pain is a condition that plagues many people, young and old. This explains why so many people find themselves using back support braces for additional support. A study by The University of Maryland Medical Center states that 60 to 80% of adults in the U.S. have lower back pain, which is also the…
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
Get Accurate Blood Glucose Monitoring While some diabetics only need to check their blood sugar levels a couple of times a day, those who are suffering from more severe forms of diabetes may require continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). This constant monitoring will ensure their glucose levels remain at safe levels, allowing them to make any…
More Than Two Types of Diabetes?
For the past 20 years diabetes has always been classified as either type 1 or type 2, but new revelations show that there could actually be five different types. New research such as one found in an article out of The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology suggests a need for a revision to the diabetes classification system. …
Apple Watch Detects Diabetes with 85% Accuracy
The Apple watch is not just a hi-tech fashion statement but is now able to detect diabetes with 85% accuracy, according to part of a larger DeepHeart study with Cardiogram and UCSF. It used data from Apple Watch users and detected 462 of them as having diabetes using the watch’s built-in heart rate sensor and artificial intelligence-based…
The Future of Medical Records on The Blockchain
With the recent explosion of Bitcoin and all the hype surrounding it, the one thing that is for certain is that its underlying technology called the blockchain will be an industry disruptor for many financial sectors in the years to come. One of those sectors that can see a major use-case for such innovation is…
Insulin History and How Insulin Works
It’s been over 100 years since the lifesaving treatment of insulin was discovered by Dr. Banting. In this article we’ll cover the history of insulin, types of insulin available, and a how-to for injecting insulin.
Child Food Allergies are on the Rise
As modern medicine continues to find ways to treat and prevent illnesses from occurring, at least one issue affecting children is on the rise, allergies. According to the Centers for Disease Control, food allergies in children have risen by 50 percent over the past couple of decades with peanut or tree nut allergies more than…
10 Ways to Curb Overeating
It is a little known fact that people with type 1 diabetes lose production of what is called Amylin. Amylin is a hormone secreted by beta cells that are responsible for making us feel full after a meal. It also impedes the emptying of the stomach along with regulating rising glucose levels. There are various…
Cinnamon May Help Fight Against Obesity.
A 2017 study from the University of Michigan found how a common spice—cinnamon—can help fight against obesity. Researchers had previously noticed that cinnamaldehyde (a basic oil responsible for cinnamon’s flavor) seemed to defend mice against obesity and hyperglycemia, but it was not well comprehended what prompted this effect. More study on this process was necessary…
Identifying Alzheimer’s before symptoms
New tests to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease are emerging, offering hope for new treatments and therapies. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the memory disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and more than 5 million people are currently living with the disease. In fact, for seniors, a third of all…
Switch Jobs in your 50s for a Longer Career, Study Says
Switching jobs late in life might be the key to a longer career, according to Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research. But the key is switching job voluntarily. Those who were laid off late in life had difficulty finding new jobs. Those who switched jobs voluntarily worked longer, increasingly the likelihood of still working at…
Low-Sugar Fruits for Diabetic Diets
Naturally occurring sugar can be found in all fruits, although some may contain more than others. Those trying keep sugar consumption under control usually give up a lot of the usual culprits such as soda pop and candy, but quite often overlook fruit. Although a healthier way of satisfying a “sweet-fix” fruits such as watermelon…
Veteran’s Day Observed
Veterans vowed their allegiance to our country by serving in the military and fight for America’s liberty. Showing gratitude can come in many forms, but a little appreciation can go a long way for those senior veterans in need on Veteran’s Day as their health and resources decline. Here are some things you can do…
The Medical Supplies Market is Expanding
Market Research Future Report According to Market Research Future, the global medical supplies market is growing exponentially and expected to reach $132 Billion by late 2022. The primary cause of this massive growth is the rising population of geriatrics as well as increase in patients with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular & diabetes. Leading this sales…
Have Medicare and Need to Manage your Diabetes?
In 2017 Medicare covered 58 million Americans, and to a lot of us, it can seem like a complicated labyrinth. For those over 65 years of age, it is essential health coverage administered by the United States government. It’s a daunting task to understand it right away, but here is some information to mitigate the…
Artificial Beta Cells that Release Insulin in Response to High Blood Sugar
A major hurdle in the patient-friendly treatment of Diabetes is the need for efficient on-demand control of blood glucose levels. Normal pancreatic cells do this naturally, so creating an insulin delivery system has been quite a challenge for researchers. Insulin pills end up destroyed in digestive enzymes and acids making it an unviable option. Pancreatic…
Common Health Issues for Seniors Over 65
With today’s higher life expectancy, 65 years of age can now mean looking forward to a meaningful rest of your life, given that you manage your health closely to avoid health risks associated with older age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 41% of people over 65 say their health is great,…
Law Enforcement Agencies Offering a Safe Way to Get Rid of Unused Prescription Drugs
Unused prescription drugs can end up in landfills, water supplies, and into the hands of thieves as well. It is safe and responsible to dispose these potentially hazardous substances by handing them over to the proper authorities. The state of Alabama is about to run the 14th Drug Take-Back Day in seven years. These programs…
How to Make Halloween Enjoyable for Children Living with Diabetes
As Halloween approaches, it can prove to be a difficult time of the year for the parents of diabetic children. It can be easy for them to feel left out when faced with limitations to the treats they may consume. Consulting with a healthcare professional to determine safe alternatives is key. Another important step is…
What’s All The Fuss About Gluten?
It’s nearly impossible to go to a restaurant or a supermarket now and not be bombarded with labels touting “gluten free” ingredients and recipes. Today people are acutely aware of an allergy to a protein in wheat, barley and rye. This allergy is called celiac disease. With all of the sudden attention to this disease,…
Shoes Make the Difference in Foot Pain
The workday can seem long when your feet hurt. Podiatrists at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine give this advice: Heels – Notoriously bad for your feet, heels cause a painful knot on the back of the heel, according to WebMD. Wearing heels constantly leads to a permanent, bony protrusion called the pump bump.…
New Food Nutrition Labels Now Lists ‘Added Sugars’
The useful nutrition labels on foods now contain a new element: Added Sugars. The listing now allows consumers to tell how much sugar is naturally occurring and how much is added. This can be important when comparing products. One example, according to the Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter: Compare 12 ounces of lemon-lime soda…
US MED Employees Host Internal Fundraiser to Aid Hurricane Harvey Victims
“US MED is in the business of assisting people in need of care on a daily basis. This extends beyond the clinical community and into local communities. As a result, US MED has launched an internal fund raising initiative through our Employee Giving Program, to assist the victims of the Harvey hurricane,” said Chief Sales…
US MED Solar Eclipse, August 21, 2017
The US MED Family is patiently waiting for the 2017 Solar Eclipse! To celebrate, the Marketing team put together Eclipse Bags for the employees containing Sun Chips and SunKist, along with a printed insert showing 6 Facts About the 2017 Solar Eclipse. 6 Facts About the 2017 Solar Eclipse 1 – This will be the…
Did You Know Herbs Can Affect Prescription Medications?
Millions of people take herbal supplements and consider them completely safe, but there are nearly 1,500 documented interactions between herbs and prescription medications. According to poison.org, about 20 percent of North Americans take herbal supplements. Humans have been using herbs for thousands of years for common ailments. In fact, many medicines today, such as morphine…
Seniors Swim Their Way To Health
High blood pressure, bad balance, arthritis — these are common problems for seniors. Still, all the experts say you should get out there and exercise. If traditional exercise just hurts, why not try swimming? Swimming is the ideal exercise for people with joint and muscle pain. The buoyant water takes the pain out of much…
Steps to Better Sleep
For Individuals with Sleep Apnea Here are some science-backed alternative options to help those with sleep apnea. Bear in mind, however, that since the root causes behind sleep apnea vary, a remedy that cures one person might do nothing for another. You’ll need to find the combination that works for you with some or all…
Get Moving
For better health: Get up, stand up, move around Researchers are studying the negative effects of sitting for extended time periods, both at the office and by the TV. Dr. Allan Hedge, a professor at Cornell University, says for every half-hour working in an office, people should sit for 20 minutes, stand for eight minutes…
A Healthy Retiree is a Happy Retiree
You can see yourself taking a swim in the pool of a fancy Hawaiian resort, riding a bike through Central Park in New York or hiking in a beautiful national park. The vision makes you feel wonderful and your retirement time is not so far away. But will you be strong enough and fit enough…
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