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Living with diabetes or prediabetes?

Whether you recently learned of your diagnosis or are looking for new ways to manage your health, you have the support of the Banner|Aetna team. We can help you understand and manage your diabetes for better health, today and tomorrow.

Set yourself up for success

It’s important to find the right provider to help you manage your condition. You can use the provider search, on your member portal, to find a primary care doctor or specialist you can talk with regularly. While primary care doctors provide effective treatment for diabetes, sometimes it may be a good idea to see an endocrinologist to ensure you are managing your health the best way possible.

You can also connect with registered nurses via a 24-hour hotline. We can help you get the right kind of help including care at home, finding nearby facilities and scheduling appointments. Simply call the Banner Nurse On-Call line at 888-747-7990 or log in to your member portal where you can find:

  • Information about doctors
  • Use the filter option in our directory of healthcare professionals and find providers with a diabetic care focus
  • Your plan benefits
  • Discount programs
  • And much more

Want to learn more?

Below are resources, tips and tools to help you with managing your diabetes. 

Father working at kitchen table with child

Key resources

To start, we’ve compiled a list of useful tools and resources to help you understand and manage your diabetes. To find local diabetes care and education programs available to you, check out the Key resources section here.

Man working on laptop

Understanding prediabetes and diabetes

Diabetes occurs when our bodies have complications with insulin. Type 1 diabetics don’t produce insulin, while those with Type 2 diabetes don’t respond to insulin properly. When left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health issues such as blindness, heart disease or kidney disease. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 American adults suffer from prediabetes and most don’t know they have it. Prediabetes raises your risk for Type 2 diabetes. It’s important to know the risk factors and how to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. Take the Prediabetes Risk Test today to see if you’re at risk.

Learn more with these helpful articles.

Knowing Pre-diabetes

Knowing Diabetes - Type 1 vs Type 2

Mother holding child

Take control

You can manage your diabetes through diet, exercise, emotional support, and medical guidance. To help you stay in control, make sure to:

  • Visit your doctor for regular checkups
  • Check your diabetes ABCs - A1c, Blood pressure and Cholesterol
  • Manage your medicines and provide your care team with a list
  • Talk with your pharmacist about your medications
  • Learn more about Banner|Aetna’s Type 2 Diabetes Reversal Program through Virta Health (See link below in resources section)

For additional information and strategies to help control your diabetes, see Banner Health’s Living Well with Diabetes ebook.

Doctor talking with patient

Get support

Take a class, join a support group or talk with your diabetes care team to learn as much as possible. Understanding diabetes will help you figure out which treatment plan works for you and your lifestyle. See key resources below for information on support available.

At Banner|Aetna, we believe that everyone deserves to feel the joy of achieve their best health. Our Care Management Team helps those dealing with complex health issues manage chronic conditions like diabetes.  Read more about Care Management and why they might reach out to you.

Get more tips on how to manage your diabetes, with this diabetes flyer

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Keep a record

It’s important to keep a record of your test results, goals and progress to discuss with your doctor at each checkup. Managing things like your cholesterol and blood pressure can reduce your chances of having a heart attack or other problems. 

Learn more about your diabetes record and keep track here.

Family eating dinner Family eating dinner

 

Tips for healthy eating

To keep you on the right path, it’s best to create a diet that supports your needs with diabetes. The diet is a healthy-eating plan unique to your needs. To start, buy healthy snacks and prepare healthy meals at home. 

Get more tips

Man looking at his phone Man looking at his phone

 

Understanding and testing blood sugar levels 

Blood sugar is an important number when it comes to diabetes management. Monitoring your blood sugar helps you prevent an emergency or determine how much insulin is needed. 

To measure how much sugar is in your blood, you can perform a blood sugar test. You will need to get a drop of blood from your finger, palm or forearm. Then add your blood into a glucose meter and you’ll get your results within minutes. 

Get started

Person riding a mountain bike Person riding a mountain bike

 

The benefits of exercising

To properly manage your diabetes, we recommend adding exercise to your routine. Exercising can help you keep blood sugar and cholesterol levels down and sleep better. To start, first talk to your doctor about how and when to exercise as some types of movements can be harmful if your diabetes is causing other problems.

Learn more

Your mental and behavioral health

Diabetes can affect your mental, emotional and behavioral health too. Being diagnosed with diabetes can create some powerful thoughts and feelings. But you are not alone. There are millions of people who have been in the same place you are and listening to their story or talking about your diagnosis are great ways to release any negative thoughts and feelings that could hinder your health.

Read Article

Banner Nurse On-Call is always available to help — 888-747-7990

Key resources to help you along your journey

Tired of just managing diabetes? Our Type 2 Diabetes Reversal Program through Virta, doesn’t require exercise, medication, or surgery. Call the number on the back of your ID Card to see if your plan includes the Virta Health program.

Learn more about Banner|Aetna’s Type 2 Diabetes Reversal Program through Virta Health

Banner|Aetna offers classes, support groups and more to help you manage diabetes and take control of your health.

See Banner Health programs

The Endocrine Institute at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix can help manage diabetes with cutting-edge, highly coordinated clinical care and ongoing scientific research. 

The Endocrine Institute at Banner

MinuteClinic® at CVS®– Available to help you lose weight, on your schedule. Join the weight loss program and get a personalized plan based on specific diets.

Learn more about MinuteClinic® at CVS®

Arizona Department of Health Services - Diabetes Program is a great resource for locals in Arizona who are seeking support and guidance. 

Arizona Department of Health Services

JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation can connect you to local support and community programs close to home.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Education

The American Diabetes Association and the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases can help you find resources and tools to manage your diabetes today and for years to come.

The American Diabetes Association

The National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases conducts and supports research on many of the most common, costly, and chronic conditions to improve health.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases

Children with Diabetes online community – If you’re a parent of a diabetic child, you can get recommendations on regimens and hear how others cope with their child’s diabetes.

Join Children with Diabetes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a great resource for up-to-date information and tools on diabetes.

See the latest CDC information

How to avoid the glucose highs and lows that affect your thinking and mood

Diabetes Rash & Other Skin Conditions

Simple ways to be more active

Transforming health care, together

Banner|Aetna aims to offer access to more efficient and effective member care at a more affordable cost. We join the right medical professionals with the right technology, so members benefit from quality, personalized health care designed to help them reach their health ambitions.

Contact us

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Health benefits and health insurance plans are offered, underwritten, and/or administered by Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Company and/or Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc. (Banner|Aetna). Banner|Aetna is an affiliate of Banner Health and of Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna). Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. Aetna and Banner Health provide certain management services to Banner|Aetna. Aetna, CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic, LLC (which either operates or provides certain management support services to MinuteClinic-branded walk-in clinics) are part of the CVS Health® family of companies.

98point6® is a registered trademark of 98point6 Inc. Access to 98point6® is not included in all plans. 98point6 is available to members age 1-17 when an adult parent or guardian is also enrolled in the plan.

This material is for information only. An application must be completed to obtain coverage. Rates and benefits vary by location. Providers are independent contractors and are not agents of Banner|Aetna. Provider participation may change without notice.

Health insurance plans contain exclusions and limitations.

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