Healthcare 65 Plus

Yes, a new year and same old , same old. As you all know by now I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type II in 2022 when I had my horrific stroke. I reversed it within 8 months. However I do still check my blood glucose religiously. I take responsibility for my health extremely serious. In addition I keep documented results daily in notebooks, time, date, results logged 2 -3 times daily for Blood glucose and Blood Pressure with any thing in addition to my self engineered diet.

Recently , my insurance company notified me with news that, I could receive a newest model Glucose meter. Naturally I contacted them and was advised to tell my provider to call them. Which of course I did, right away. The next day I received a notice from Walmart pharmacy that, my prescription was ready for pick up. I went to the pharmacy to pick up what I thought may be my regular test strips but instead they gave me new meter …. are you ready for this??? A new meter still in the packaging with NO test strips!! I asked the kind person behind the counter at the pharmacy. What would I do with this , without test strips? She told me I would have to have my doctor prescribe test strips! Therefore I asked if anyone may know what benefit this meter would be without test strips. No one seemed to know that answer. I just had to tell them this is truly Healthcare at it’s finest. I suppose I could liken this to: if someone needs a CPAP machine They would get the machine without the mask. What ever happened to common sense?

Next, I called my Insurance Carrier and had nice con versation about the providers knowing they must prescribe the test strips and lancelets with all Blood Glucose meters! This is for security purposes. Evidently, my provider missed that class. so, I called my provider and told the receptionist what happened. She said, she would send a note and see what happens. well I am in the dark and I get a notification from Walmart, that , my prescription guide is ready! Are we having fun yet? Okey, so I bit that one and called just for sh@tz and giggles. The pharmacy advises me, my test strips for my new meter are ready! So now, I have to make another trip to Walmart. Now this is what I call the epitome of Healthcare for the elderly.

My big question is …. what happens to those patients who don’t know what to do or whom to call, or get frustrated and just don’t bother any further? What happens when they DON’T test their blood glucose? There are indeed some companies that do not include test strips with their meters, This should be kbnowledge available to providers. If it isthe, providers need to leep up to date on this particular practice. Because, Elderly p[tients high on 3 or 4 medicatiopns will not be thinking clearly and not be able to solve their own problem. Hence, they will go without and we all know where that will lead.

This is still a form of Medical neglect! That goes without saying a very big probability of discontinuance of care is being exhibited. I just don’t know of any case where a provider raised their hand and said ” oh, yea that was me, I forget! Sorry!” When they find out that elderly patient had another stroke and died. Come on people we need to be a bit more conscientious. This is a very potentially dangerous situation for the Elderly! There are legal remedies for such! Let’s not keep bending the rules, shall we? These are the things that make me regret I ever retired. But Thankfully I can teach the elderly what solutions they do have available.