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The Bestmed Diabetes care programme assists diabetic members and their dependants to live a constructive and rewarding life.
Diabetes is a chronic, lifelong condition that affects your body’s ability to use the energy provided by food. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease where the pancreas either does not produce any or enough insulin, which causes an excess of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Insulin is the hormone that assists your body cells to use glucose as energy for it to function properly.
There are two major types of the disease, namely:
The Bestmed Diabetes care programme focuses on actively managing members with diabetes while taking into consideration any associated diseases/disorders, e.g. high cholesterol, high blood pressure etc. The programme is designed to assist the diabetic member and their dependants to live a constructive and rewarding life.
In 2019, we appointed Halocare to administer the Bestmed Diabetes care programme. Halocare is a managed care organisation that is fully accredited by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS). The programme co-ordinates the different role players in diabetes disease management to achieve the best health outcomes for members. It acts as the main liaison between the member, the preferred healthcare provider and Bestmed.
The programme applies and reviews the latest clinical guidelines as recommended by national and international organisations. This is to ensure that members receive the most effective treatment plan and care for diabetes.
Diabetes does qualify as a PMB. It forms part of the 26 chronic conditions that are included in the Chronic Disease List (CDL) as set out by the CMS.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and registered at Bestmed as having diabetes, you will be automatically enrolled onto the Diabetes care programme, so there is no need to go through a lengthy enrolment process.
You will be contacted by a case manager who will ask you a few questions to see how healthy you are and what the status is of your overall wellbeing.
You can contact any of our case managers and diabetes nurse educators by telephone and e-mail with any questions you may have. You will also receive information and education by means of a newsletter that will further empower you to manage your chronic condition better.
No, you can still go to your current doctor.
All information pertaining to your health status is treated with complete confidentiality.
What if I have an emergency? You have access to after-hours emergency support at any time, just call +27 (0)860 143 258 for help.
A HbA1c blood test monitors how much sugar (glucose) is in your blood over an average time span of two to three months.
HbA1c is created when the sugar (glucose) attaches to your red blood cells and over time builds up in your body. Since these blood cells are active for a two to three-month period, you need to have your blood tests done regularly. Knowing your HbA1c blood level is important because it can help you manage your blood sugar levels, thus preventing complications associated with diabetes.
Diabetics must maintain a healthy lifestyle. To sustain a good quality of life, you must take action to prevent or slow down diabetic complications. Keep to regular physical and eye exams and follow instructions from your healthcare provider including adhering to your diabetes care plan, thereby assisting you in living a productive life.
If you have any queries relating to the Diabetes care programme, contact:
