Some people, especially those with pre-diabetes, may not experience symptoms initially. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe. Symptoms for type 1 or type 2 diabetes could include:

• Increased thirst and extreme hunger
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue and irritability
• Blurred Vision
• Slow-healing sores
• Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections

Treatment could include diet control, exercise, home blood glucose testing, and in some cases, oral medication and/or insulin. Approximately 40 percent of people with type 2 diabetes require insulin injections.

The Premier PointApproach

Diabetes care is complex and requires that many issues, beyond glycemic control, be addressed. The Premier Point clinicians help to facilitate coordination of care with the entire medical team including the primary physician and dietitian, pharmacist, and medical social worker, if required. The clinician also works with the patient, family members, and caregivers to establish realistic goals and self-management tactics that take into consideration the patient’s age, daily schedule, eating patterns, cultural factors and support system, and the presence of complications of diabetes or other medical conditions. Many patients are able to reap the benefits of long-term glycemic control with the help and support of a medical team highly skilled in the delivery of care for diabetic patients. Premier Point clinicians have an average of 10 years of experience, and treat hundreds of diabetic patients annually. We are committed to delivering exceptional care like no other.

Our care plan includes:

• A full body assessment including checking feet for signs of open areas or wounds and capturing a history of dental and genitourinary infections
• Teaching self-injection techniques, how to find appropriate injection sites, and changes in skin or other indications that require follow-up care
• Explaining medication side effects and appropriate responses to different symptoms including, change in diet, bed rest, or symptoms that require follow up care
• How to properly manage medication supplies, ordering refills, and coordination with home-delivery pharmacists
• Coordinating in-home podiatry or dietitian referrals

Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure describes the inability of the heart to adequately pump the amount of blood needed, causing fluid to leak from capillary blood vessels. The symptoms of congestive heart failure can include fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling, and it is one of the leading cause of hospitalizations nationwide. Reasons for heart failure vary, however, most doctors agree that a precise diagnosis and a coordinated treatment plan that often includes education, lifestyle modifications, addressing potentially reversible factors, appropriate therapies, and properly taking prescribed medications allow patients to effectively manage their condition without repeat visits to the hospital.

Our Care Program Includes:

• An initial consultation with the patient and family or caregiver to review the physician's prescribed plan of treatment and the patient's goals and potential outcomes
• A review of the patient's current diet regimen including salt intake, food preparation and establishing an appropriate diet plan or referral to a dietitian
• Evaluating the need for additional outside services or coordination with a medical social worker
• Ongoing reviews of their prescribed medications including proper dosages, creating refill reminders to maintain adequate supply, and educating the patient and signs and symptoms of potential drug interactions
• Teaching the patient how to recognize changes in their health and adaptive behaviors to avoid serious illnesses

All of our CHF patients are assessed for enrollment in our TeleHealth Monitoring program. We at Premier Point understand that many CHF patients need daily monitoring to ensure strict adherence to their physician's prescribed plan of treatment. We also understand that modest biometric changes could seriously compromise patients' health, or even result in hospital admission. Our TeleHealth Monitoring system provides 24/7 automatic transmissions of our patients' key biometric readings, and special alerts to our team of clinicians in metrics fall outside of designated parameters to ensure prompt attention is initiated. The equipment is fully self-contained and does not require home Internet or telephone service.

Hypertension

Approximately 33% of all people in the US over the age of 20 years have hypertension and are taking anti-hypertensive medications, according to a study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of blood vessels, and the magnitude of this force depends on the cardiac output and the resistance of the blood vessels. Hypertension is a blood pressure higher than 140 over 90 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Blood pressure has a natural variation – it lowers during sleep, and rises in response to excitement, anxiety and physical activity. Elevated readings over an extended period of time, however, are contributing factors to a variety of illnesses including kidney disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

Specific causes of high blood pressure are unknown but is most often attributed to lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, a salt-rich diet created by processed and fatty foods, and alcohol and tobacco use. Lifestyle changes are the most regularly initiated course of treatment for hypertension, and it can be as effective as drug treatment with the added advantage of positive effects on heart health.