It is hard to live with a chronic disease that can lead to serious health conditions. Take diabetes, for example. The American Diabetes Association estimates there are 20.8 million American adults and children who have diabetes and only 14.6 million have been diagnosed with the illness. A number of serious, sometimes life-threatening complications arise from diabetes.

Heart disease and stroke account for about 65% of deaths in people with diabetes. Heart disease death rates are about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes. The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher and the risk of death from stroke is 2.8 times higher among people with diabetes. High blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, nervous system disease, amputations, and dental disease are just a few of the complications that can result when diabetes is out of control.

Fortunately, things don’t have to spiral out of control with chronic diseases. When you have a dedicated team of health professionals working on your behalf, you can get the medical care that you need.

No matter what type of diabetes a person may have, it affects many parts of his or her life. Help is available from health professionals trained to focus on different areas. A health care team helps you use the health care system to its fullest.

For the benefit of members who live with chronic disease, the CBEBT has partnered with Healthways, Inc., to bring you Care Support, an award-winning disease management program.

The goals of Care Support include improving the quality of life for Trust members who live with chronic illness supporting doctors’ treatment plans while lowering out-of-pocket costs for Trust members by preventing unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital stays

For 25 years, Healthways, Inc. has provided cutting-edge disease and care management programs for hospitals, employers and health care plans like the CBEBT. Healthways programs currently serve more than three million people and their health care providers.
Care Support is provided to Trust members and their eligible dependents at no additional cost.

For more information, please call Healthways toll free at 1.888.870.2433 or visit the Healthways webpage at http://www.cbservices.org/cbs/healthways.html