40 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • JULY 6, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Taking a Family Approach to Type 2 Diabetes Management
For many, Father’s Day is a time for us
to refl ect on how much our dads mean
to us, how much we’ve learned from
them, and how they’ve helped us become
who we are today. Former professional
football player and national sports talk
show host Mike Golic is no diff erent - he
learned from his dad’s experience with
type 2 diabetes and is using it to shape his
own management of this condition.
Growing up, Mike observed his father’s
private journey with type 2 diabetes. “He
had support from my mother,” Mike
recalls, “but he didn’t like to talk about
it - that just wasn’t his way, and I respect
that.” Years later, when Mike was diagnosed
Finding a Path to Your Medicines
America’s healthcare environment
is constantly evolving, and the path to
aff ordable medicines is not always easy
to fi nd. But you don’t have to feel lost.
Th ere are programs available to help.
At the core of Pfi zer’s commitment
to patients is the belief that everyone
deserves access to quality care,
including when it comes to their medicines.
Th at’s why for more than 30
years, Pfi zer has empowered patients
in need with assistance and information,
so they can get access to the medicines
prescribed by their doctor. Today,
that help is provided through Pfi zer
RxPathways®, which connects eligible
patients to a full range of Pfi zer assistance
programs that off er insurance
support, co-pay assistance, and medicines
for free or at a savings. Patients
can talk to trained Medicine Access
Counselors who work with each person
to understand their unique situation
and guide them to the Pfi zer programs
or resources that can best meet
their needs.
Among those receiving assistance from
Pfi zer is caregiver Suzanne. “I called
Pfi zer and said our daughter is on medication
and I’m really afraid we’re going
to lose insurance,” Suzanne said. “Pfi zer
was a friendly voice on the other line saying,
‘It’s okay, we’ll take care of you.’”
Suzanne is one of millions helped by
one of Pfi zer’s comprehensive assistance
programs. Th rough state-of-the-art
facilities and highly trained staff , Pfi zer
helped more than 1.6 million patients
receive over 19 million Pfi zer prescriptions
for free or at a savings over the last
fi ve years (2012-2016).*
Healthcare can be diffi cult to navigate
- especially during stressful times - and
Pfi zer RxPathways could help. If you or
someone you know needs assistance getting
access to or paying for Pfi zer medicines,
dial the toll-free phone number
1-844-989-PATH (7284) or visit www.
Pfi zerRxPathways.com to learn more
about available options.
Courtesy BPT
with the condition at age 42, he
decided he needed a diff erent approach.
“I knew I needed my whole family
involved to stay on track. Th ey help me
make sure we have healthy groceries at
home and even take time to exercise with
me,” Mike says.
“I also learned to lean on my doctor
and asked him about treatment with
INVOKANA® (canaglifl ozin). Since I
started taking the once-daily pill, I have
been able to lower my blood sugar, and
even lost some weight.”
INVOKANA® is a once-daily pill used
along with diet and exercise to lower
blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
In most clinical trials, the majority
of people taking INVOKANA® reached
an A1C goal of less than 7.0 percent,
which is recommended by the American
Diabetes Association. INVOKANA® is
not for weight loss, but may help people
lose weight - on average 2-3 percent.
INVOKANA® was also shown in clinical
trials to reduce systolic blood pressure
(on average 3-5 mmHg), though it is not
indicated for antihypertensive treatment.
Results may vary by dose and when used
alone or with certain other diabetes medications.
Th e most common side eff ects of
INVOKANA® include genital yeast infections,
urinary tract infection, and changes
in urination. Th ese specifi c adverse events
were generally mild to moderate in intensity
in clinical studies.
Along with factors like age and ethnicity,
having a family history of type 2 diabetes
can increase your risk of developing
the condition, so it’s important to have
open conversations with your loved ones.
It’s also crucial to discuss your progress
with your doctor so that together, you can
make the best decisions regarding your
care. Having these talks can be challenging
at times - consider creating a personalized
discussion guide at ICanImagine.
com to help you stay vocal during your
next appointment.
Mike notes watching his father’s experiences
with type 2 diabetes inspired him
to lead by example. “As a dad, I want my
kids to have all of the information and
support they need to stay healthy. I talk
openly about my condition and try to
make smart choices about my health,”
he says. “For my family, managing type 2
diabetes is really a team eff ort.”
Learn more about Mike’s health journey
and get useful tips at ICanImagine.com.
Courtesy BPT
