Blue Cross Reminds Louisianians to Know Their Numbers for Diabetes Awareness Month

Nov. 12, 2018

BATON ROUGE – November is Diabetes Awareness Month, with World Diabetes Day observed on Nov. 14. Although diabetes is a national health issue, it’s particularly acute in Louisiana. 

Approximately one in eight Louisianians is living with diabetes, and it’s among the state’s leading causes of death. If not controlled, diabetes, which causes high blood sugar, can lead to eye, kidney or nerve damage, and it can raise a person’s risk for strokes or heart disease.

To help people delay or prevent the serious side effects of diabetes, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana reminds members to know their numbers and talk to their doctors about their blood sugar levels to find out if they’re at risk. Family and medical history can also affect a person’s risk for diabetes.

“If you are one of the many people in our state who have diabetes, you’re not in this alone,” said Vindell Washington, M.D., Blue Cross chief medical officer. “Our in-house care team offers many programs and services to support members with diabetes in sticking to their doctors’ treatment plans and getting as healthy as possible. There’s no cost to our members to work with the Blue Cross care team.” 

Visit www.bcbsla.com/Stronger for more information on how to connect with a Blue Cross health coach or sign up for programs and services.

Dr. Washington talks about diabetes and the importance of knowing your numbers in this video.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is committed to our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians. We invest both time and money in the communities we serve, supporting the health and wellbeing of Louisianians through more than 200 charitable organizations.

With our subsidiaries, HMO Louisiana and Southern National Life, we provide group and individual health insurance plans, life and disability insurance, group voluntary products and administrative services to one out of four Louisiana residents. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana also provides Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage plans and is a partner in offering the Healthy Blue Medicaid Managed care plan. Louisiana is the only state where we operate, with offices in every major region to serve our customers.

Founded in New Orleans in 1934, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is a tax-paying non-profit health insurer. We are a private mutual company, owned by our policyholders, with an independent Louisiana Board of Directors and no shareholders. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

To learn more, visit our website at www.bcbsla.com.