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Beyond Blood Sugar: The Connection Between Diabetes and Your Eyes and Smile

BCBSIL Connect Team November 18, 2025

Diabetes can affect more than your blood sugar — it can also cause problems to your vision and oral health. Diabetes and Vision : Diabetes puts you more at risk for diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, glaucoma and cataracts. These c...
- 25 Views
Understanding Sickle Cell Disease and Living Well

BCBSIL Connect Team November 14, 2025

Our family history and DNA play a large role in our health and well-being. Genetic changes and traits carried by parents often appear in their children —even when the parents don’t have any symptoms of a genetic condit...
- 5048 Views
Do You Know the Early Warning Signs of a Stroke?

BCBSIL Connect Team November 7, 2025

Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the U.S. Knowing the earliest signs of a stroke can be a lifesaver. Every minute that a stroke continues, thousands of brain cells are dying. The faster you get the right medical care...
- 61470 Views
Help Your Doctors Talk to Each Other About Your Care

BCBSIL Connect Team November 7, 2025

You and your primary care provider work together to make sure you are in the best health possible. It’s a two-way street. Your doctor uses training and know-how to guide you. But to give you the best guidance, your doctor needs you to share all....
- 11153 Views
Young Adult’s Health Guide: Tips for Your 20s and Beyond

BCBSIL Connect Team November 7, 2025

Being a young adult is an exciting time of life. College, career and romantic relationships often start taking center stage. But there are also more mundane aspects of adulting that are important to your well-being — like taking care of your he....
- 5444 Views
Are You at Risk for Cirrhosis?

BCBSIL Connect Team November 6, 2025

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows deaths from alcohol-related liver disease – like cirrhosis – have risen each year since 2006. Nearly all racial, ethnic and age groups have seen increases. The Cleveland Clini...
- 9483 Views
How to Make New Year’s Resolutions You Can Keep

BCBSIL Connect Team October 28, 2025

The start of a new year seems like the right time to set resolutions. We may even make lists of things we’d like to change. Our lists often include “eat healthy” and “exercise more.” Sometimes it's hard to follow t...
- 14410 Views
Fall and Wintertime Skincare: How to Prevent and Treat Dry Skin

BCBSIL Connect Team October 27, 2025

The leaves are falling, the holidays are just around the corner. So is something else. Itchy skin. Yep, as the seasons change, so does your skin. The skin routine you use in the summer may not work so well in the fall and winter when humidity dr...
- 7097 Views
Eating Healthy for Your Eyes

BCBSIL Connect Team October 27, 2025

Did you know eating well plays a big role in keeping your eyesight healthy? A balanced diet high in vitamins and nutrients can help prolong healthy vision. It also helps protect you from age-related eye diseases. A colorful diet equals a ...
- 141 Views
What Happens When Your Doctor Recommends Physical Therapy

BCBSIL Connect Team October 14, 2025

What Is Physical Therapy? Physical therapy is a type of care aimed at helping your body function and move better. It is also used to help relieve pain. It may be prescribed following an injury, after surgery or to help manage a chronic condition...
- 33688 Views
Get the Scoop on Those Sneaky Sugars

BCBSIL Connect Team October 13, 2025

Sugar is in fruits and vegetables and other foods that are part of a healthy diet, like dairy and grains. But there are also sneaky added sugars in many foods, including some you wouldn’t expect. It’s that added sugar you’...
- 16612 Views
Mindful Eating with Diabetes

BCBSIL Connect Team October 13, 2025

Learning to be more mindful can help us calmly think through situations. For people with diabetes, the values of mindfulness may even help them practice better self-care. What is mindfulness? It is being tuned in to your thoughts, feelings and body...
- 40239 Views
The Many Benefits of Music in Your Life

BCBSIL Connect Team October 8, 2025

For centuries, songs and music have been used to tell stories, share culture and history, and create emotional connection. But often overlooked, is the positive impact music can have on our health and overall quality of life. Here is a list of ways...
- 6304 Views
Take Care of Yourself When You Take Care of Others

BCBSIL Connect Team October 6, 2025

Look around and you’re bound to see a lot of caregivers. In the U.S., 1 in 4 adults are family caregivers. They may be caring for elderly parents, a sick spouse or disabled child. Caregiving in the United States is on the rise. According to AA.....
- 60689 Views
Do You Have COPD?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 6, 2025

For those who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), every breath can be a struggle. COPD is a serious health condition that narrows airways and makes it hard to breathe. Over time, it can get worse and lead to other serious health issues...
- 2612 Views