Doctor Column

“Snapshot” Medicare’s $35 Out-Of-Pocket Insulin April 5, 2023 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Over 3.3 million Americans on Medicare use insulin. In August 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act which included caps on out-of-pocket insulin costs to $35 per month for each insulin product covered by a person’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, or Medicare Advantage plan. The law took effect on January 1, 2023. For Medicare patients who use an insulin pump, the law goes into effect on July1, 2023. Similarities Between Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes May 15, 2022 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Type 1& 2 diabetes result from problems with insulin causing high blood glucose levels. Previous discussions highlighted the differences between both types of diabetes mellitus. What follows are several highlighted similarities. Ten Key Differences Between Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes April 25, 2022 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are chronic conditions that damage the body’s ability to metabolize sugars; that is, break down sugars from our diet into glucose. Consequently, blood levels of glucose become and remain elevated unless treated with diet, lifestyle changes and medications. We need the energy of glucose in our cells for our bodies to function. Type 2 Diabetes PS: Watch Your “Ps & Ss” March 15, 2022 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects 37 million Americans. Nine out of ten times diabetes it’s caused by T2D. Approximately eight per cent of the time it is due to type 1 diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes — “Four Key Players” March 5, 2022 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Deaths in the United States due to diabetes have exceeded 100,000 for the years 2020, and 2021. The CDC reports, “37.3 million” Americans of all ages have diabetes. “And the percentage of adults with diabetes increased with age, reaching 29.2% among those aged 65 years or older.” Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM): How It Can Prevent Low Blood Sugar Emergencies July 15, 2020 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Vanessa is an 11 year old with type 1 diabetes who presented to the emergency department for the third time within the past 12 months because of “problems with her sugar.” She was unconscious, in hypoglycemic shock (extremely low blood glucose level) and clinging to life. Diabetes and the Significance of Hemoglobin A1c November 28, 2016 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Over the years, unintended discoveries in medicine have resulted in huge benefits for patients. The chance discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 is considered by some to be among the most significant achievements of the 20th century. Telemedicine for Diabetes October 8, 2014 Leonard Thaler, MD, FACE, ECNU Telemedicine appears to be particularly well suited for the management of diabetes. Given the growth of diabetes in the population and an increasing shortage of Endocrinologists, patients with diabetes often face long delays in medical care.