Diabetes

Living with diabetes

Diabetes occurs when your body can’t produce or properly use a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps cells take in and use blood sugar as energy. As a result, blood sugar levels become too high. The main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

Common symptoms include thirst, frequent urination and weight loss. You can have diabetes and not know it. Talk with your primary care provider (PCP) if you are at risk for diabetes.

If you have diabetes, we will help you manage it. We can work with you, your PCP and your other health care providers. A Tufts Health RITogether disease manager can help you get the care you need. We can send you information about living well with diabetes. We can also remind you about the tests and appointments you should have each year.

We work with a Tufts Health Plan-approved vendor for diabetic supplies, who can:

• Give you a meter
• Visit you at home to teach you how to use the meter
• Teach you less painful ways to test your blood
• Teach you about regular foot and eye care
• Teach you healthy eating habits
• Deliver supplies to your home
• Make sure you always have testing supplies when you need them

In some cases, we can send a nurse to your home. The nurse will give you information to get you started with our diabetes health coaching program. To request a visit from a nurse, ask your PCP to call us at 866.738.4116 (TTY: 711). We’re open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To help you manage your diabetes, we give you:

• Information about diabetes nutrition classes
• The latest information on diabetes in our Online Health Guide
• A $25 supermarket gift card — for eligible members who have completed all of the following: 
  • An eye exam
  • Two blood sugar (HbA1c) tests
  • Urine microalbumin test
  • A blood cholesterol test

Learn how to get your $25 supermarket gift card.