Approximately 12 million Americans ages 65 and older have type 2 diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed).¹ In addition, 23.1 million adults (48.3 percent) ages 65 or older have prediabetes and are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.^2,3

Based on these statistics, chances are that many of your older-adult patients have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, placing them at risk for other health problems associated with these conditions.

November is National Diabetes Month. This is a good time to talk with your patients about reducing their risk for prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and the attendant health issues through healthy lifestyle, which include eating right and getting enough physical activity. Explain how regular exercise can help patients:

• lose weight;
• strengthen the heart and improve blood circulation;
• lower blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol;
• increase energy levels;
• sleep better and relieve stress.

Your Independence Medicare Advantage patients can get the activity they need with the SilverSneakers fitness program by Tivity Health, an independent company. Patients must use a SilverSneakers-participating facility. SilverSneakers includes:

• a fitness membership with access to more than 14,000 participating fitness locations nationwide;
• use of all basic amenities;
• SilverSneakers group exercise classes;
• SilverSneakers FLEX^®, with classes such as tai chi, yoga, and dance, and walking groups at locations where older adults are likely to gather, such as older-adult living communities, parks, and recreation centers.

SilverSneakers is available at no additional cost beyond their plan premium to Keystone 65 Select HMO, Keystone 65 Preferred HMO, Keystone 65 Focus Rx HMO, and Personal Choice 65^SM PPO members. Refer your patients to SilverSneakers to help them get the activity they need for a healthy lifestyle. Find out more by visiting the SilverSneakers website or by calling 1-888-423-4632 (TTY:711).

¹www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics
²www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/diabetes-st atistics
³www.niddk.nih.gov/search?s=all&q=prediabetes. Prediabetes Fact Sheet, April 2017.

Tivity Health, SilverSneakers, and SilverSneakers FLEX are registered trademarks or trademarks of Tivity Health, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.^© 2017 Tivity Health, Inc. All rights reserved.