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Blogs: Meet your Endocrinologist: Going to the "Diabetes Doctor"

BCBSIL Connect Team

You just learned you have diabetes. Your primary care physician (PCP) wants you to track your blood sugar, start a workout program and come back for a follow-up visit. It’s a lot to take in. As part of your treatment plan, your PCP may refer y...
- August 19, 2023
Blogs: Understanding Sickle Cell Disease and Living Well

BCBSIL Connect Team

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...
- August 18, 2023
Blogs: Fulfilling the Wishes of Loved Ones at the End of Life

BCBSIL Connect Team

Talking about the end of a life with friends and family members is often a hard conversation. Many of us don’t think we need to think over important final decisions when health is good. For a young, healthy person, these talks a...
- August 17, 2023
Blogs: Eat, Move, Sleep: Physical Well-being

BCBSIL Connect Team

For more than 30 years, physical activity was the main focus of worksite health promotion. Step challenges and on-site yoga went hand-in-hand with weight-loss initiatives. Together, they made up “wellness at work.” With the move...
- August 16, 2023
Blogs: How to $ave Money

BCBSIL Connect Team

There are many ways you can help keep your health care costs down. Try these tips to find $avings on doctor visits, prescription medications, fitness trackers and more. We have resources to help you make the best decision for you. Our Provider F...
- August 15, 2023
Blogs: Wash the Rind to Leave Bacteria Behind

BCBSIL Connect Team

The peak of summer brings ripe, tasty melons, like cantaloupe and watermelon, from the farm to your table. Watermelons are not only refreshing, they’re also a great source of the antioxidant lycopene. What’s so special about lycopene? Lyc...
- August 15, 2023
Blogs: How to Make the Most of a Date with Your Doctor

BCBSIL Connect Team

Wouldn’t it be great to call your doctor and get in to see them when you need to? Waiting to see a care provider can be hard. Left to our own devices, we’re often tempted to self-diagnose. We call mom to get her advice about what to put ...
- August 14, 2023
Blogs: Back Pain Is Such a Pain

BCBSIL Connect Team

Its happens to many of us. We move or lift something the wrong way and our back protests. Sometimes it’s just a brief twinge of pain — a reminder to move more carefully. Other times, the pain may be intense and last a long time. The ...
- August 13, 2023
Blogs: From Headache to Heartache: NSAIDs Pose Heart Dangers

BCBSIL Connect Team

Read the fine print the next time you pick up a bottle of ibuprofen or naproxen. You’ll see a warning about the risk for potentially deadly heart attacks and strokes. These drugs are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs. The U.S...
- August 12, 2023
Blogs: Mindful Eating with Diabetes

BCBSIL Connect Team

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. ...
- August 11, 2023

You've Got Mail: Pharmacy Mail Order Service

BCBSIL Connect Team October 17, 2023

Using a mail order pharmacy service can save you time, and maybe even money. It's convenient because your prescriptions are mailed right to you. That saves you a trip to the pharmacy. You can enjoy home delivery from Express Scripts® Ph...
- 53830 Views
Be an Advocate for Your Own Care

BCBSIL Connect Team October 16, 2023

Prevention is an important part of being healthy. That can mean having a yearly exam. It can mean having routine screening tests. When an illness can’t be avoided, stepping up to help direct your own health care is critical. Get Involved in You....
- 9771 Views
The Link Between Diabetes and Depression

BCBSIL Connect Team October 7, 2023

Your mental health touches so many parts of your daily life. It affects how you think and feel, handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Your thoughts and feelings affect how healthy you are. It isn’t surprising that having a mental .....
- 13668 Views
Eat Whole Grains for a Healthier You

BCBSIL Connect Team October 6, 2023

Adding more whole grains to your diet is an easy way to get more health benefits from the foods you eat. If you picture a slice of dry wheat bread when you hear “whole grains,” don't worry. There are a lot of tasty whole grains waiti...
- 5247 Views
Every Breath You Take

BCBSIL Connect Team October 5, 2023

Your home may be warm and cozy, but is it good for your lungs? People tend to take their lungs for granted. We know we can’t live without them, but we don’t spend much time taking care of them. But as outdoor activities give way to indoo...
- 13283 Views
Before the Fall: Take These Steps to Stay Safe

BCBSIL Connect Team October 5, 2023

You’ve heard the old saying: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It may not apply to everything, but when it comes to avoiding a fall, a little prevention goes a long way. Each year, more than one in four people over ...
- 7317 Views
Check Up on Your Health with Annual Health Exam

BCBSIL Connect Team October 3, 2023

Whether it’s getting your annual wellness visit or having your cholesterol checked, you need to keep up with your health screenings. They play a big role in catching small health problems before they become big ones.
- 26701 Views
Be Mindful of Your Lung Health

BCBSIL Connect Team October 3, 2023

Breath is life. Anyone who’s ever had trouble breathing knows how frightening it can be. Sometimes people think breathing issues are part of growing older. A nagging cough or slight wheeze might just be due to a cold, but it could also be a si.....
- 9914 Views
Did You Know Taking Certain Medications Can Raise Your Risk of Diabetes?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 2, 2023

Diabetes is a serious health issue and early detection is vital. If you’re taking medicine for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, talk to your health care provider. If you are at risk, you may need a simple test to check...
- 2301 Views
Diabetes: If You Can’t Prevent It, You May Be Able to Delay It

BCBSIL Connect Team October 2, 2023

When it comes to diabetes, small changes in your diet and lifestyle can have a big payoff. In fact, they may be able to help you prevent the disease or delay its onset. How? Many people don't know they have prediabetes. With prediabetes, blood.....
- 11377 Views
Healthy Gut, Healthy Life?

BCBSIL Connect Team September 28, 2023

You may have heard that your gut is your second brain. The saying gives a sense of how vital your digestive system is to the rest of your body. But what does it mean? A network of hundreds of millions of nerve cells called neurons line the gut, or...
- 16634 Views
Create a Routine for Better Sleep

BCBSIL Connect Team September 28, 2023

Most Americans have some type of trouble with sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 3 American adults say they’re not getting enough sleep every day. And millions of Americans have chronic sleep disorders....
- 7705 Views
Time to Enroll in a Health Plan Again? Already?

BCBSIL Connect Team September 10, 2023

Many of us aren’t big fans of deadlines. We’re busy. Finding time to knock out one more thing on our to-do list can be a hassle. With some deadlines, a little procrastination may not really matter. That’s not the case when it comes ...
- 10926 Views
Why Kids Need Health Insurance

BCBSIL Connect Team September 9, 2023

Children are known for their endless curiosity, cute faces and their ability to come home covered in dirt. Being a trendy pre-teen or adventurous kindergartener comes with its share of coughs and colds, bumps and bruises and mystery rashes....
- 9814 Views
Stay Safe in the Summertime

BCBSIL Connect Team September 7, 2023

For many people, summer is the best time of the year. It’s filled with long days spent outside crammed full of fun activities. But summer brings its own challenges when it comes to keeping your family healthy. Nothing puts the brakes on a good ....
- 17897 Views

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