Thumbs up.

I think we're all set.

All right.

So we're gonna get started.

Today we have Joan Hill with us to talk about diabetes.

Joan's a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with over 30 years of experience, which is amazing.

That's a long time in this field.

And she works with people who not only have diabetes but also pre-diabetic to help keep them away from that type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

So after Joan goes through her presentation today, I'll talk about the anthem diabetes resources, which I think is a very important piece to today's presentation.

So I'll go through those for you.

Some you might know about, it's always good to have just a reminder of things.

And then we do have our new nutrition program that we have here monthly that we're starting in December.

So I'll talk about that.

Just as a reminder, it's the session's being recorded for those that can't come live.

So if you ask a question, just if you can be loud about it, we don't have a mic to hand around today, but um Joan can repeat your question and then give the answer out.

Because I I think that's how we decided we were going to go.

Ask questions as as the presentation's happening, so it's fresh.

Um so without any further ado, I'm gonna turn it over to Jo.

Thank you.

Sure enough.

Thanks.

So hi everybody, thanks so much for coming.

Um I'm from the Boston area, and so it was a little bit of a ride.

Glad it was great weather.

I actually twisted my husband's arm to come with me today.

Um so that's Joe Hill, which is kind of interesting because we've been married for 42 years, and it's the first time I think he's ever seen me speak.

I don't know.

No.

Maybe one or two other times.

Anyway, um, my job is to help convey to you how serious diabetes is.

Um, but you know, when I think about the way that business works, sometimes the slides come and they are not necessarily answering the questions that you want to have answered.

So the way that I really like to open up the dialogue, and it really should be a dialogue, because as you said, I didn't get your name when you came in the room, but you said diabetes is a curse.

And um, what I'd like to share with you is that it doesn't need to be if you're actually engaged in the process of how to manage.

And I know it's become extremely complex over the last 30 years that I've been doing education.

I I tell this funny story that at one time it used to be we talked to patients about insulin and one pill.

And now I talk to patients about technology using insulin, devices that they never had to use before, as well as maybe 14 different classes of drugs that one potentially can use to try and help manage diabetes.

So, with that introduction, what I'd like to do is just take a minute and ask, why did you come and what question are you hoping that I may be able to answer for you before we leave today?

And because I'm over 60, I write it on the board because I suffer from CRS, can't remember stuff.

So I'm going to just take a few minutes to ask, is there any particular question that's pressing on your mind that you would like me to address?

And I don't know the answers to everything, but I will be able to direct you to some places that you can find out that answer.

Yes, in the back.

So the question is, is type 1 diabetes still two to 3% of the population?

It is.

So when I hear people talk about the differences of diabetes, which we're gonna address in just a minute, um, a lot of people think because type 1 diabetes may has to require insulin, they think it's the worst kind of diabetes, right?

And so when I think about addressing the issues of how to manage type 1 diabetes, it's definitely a smaller population.

And it is certainly an insulin requiring treatment.

Um, but when we think about the differences that we have now from when I first started, I'll I can address that a little bit later.

Any other questions that people want to make sure I answer?

So diabetes is diagnosed when you're greater than or equal to 126 fasting.

So if you're if you're concerned.

And what is reported is that it should be on two separate occasions.

So it's not just one.

And then some people ask sometimes, is it by finger stick?

Is it by continuous glucose monitor?

Or is it by venipuncture?

So when the doctor takes blood or the phlebotomist takes blood out of your arm, it is diagnostic from the arm, not a finger stick and not uh a continuous glucose monitor at this time.

Things may change.

So the question is how accurate is the A1C that you get on the glucose monitor?

The glucose monitor name nomenclature is called a GMI, which stands for glucose management indicator, and it is not an exact measurement.

So your A1C could be different than what your GMI is if you have a continuous glucose monitor.