So this weekend, among all the other things going on with the the holiday, the family and I decided to do a little grocery shopping. So we packed up the kids in the car and headed for Aldi’s. I love Aldi’s. Where else can you grocery shop, fill a shopping cart to capacity, find virtually everything you need and walk out of the store not spending any moe than $100. So we get to the store and make our rounds through the store. Other than having to chase down our 4 year old a few times, everything when pretty smoothly.

checking over our list and making sure that we got everything, we headed towards the checkout. As we get to the line, the same checker that always seems to be there was finishing up the couple in front of us. I am beginning to wonder if he is the only checker that works in the store. Granted, it is not a real big store but we seem to come shopping on different days and different times. So, I start unloading the cart onto the conveyer belt. with just a nod of his head and a virtually inaudible hi, he begins scanning the products and throwing them into the cart.

As he scans the last of our items, he totals it out, looks up and give me the total. So I start pulling out my wallet and use the debit machine to pay, the checker looks at me and says, “So, are you allergic to Insulin?”

WHAT?!?!?

where did that comment come from and what the hell was he talking about? I am sure I had an utterly puzzled look on my face but the checker didn’t react like I did, but he doesn’t react to much. I thought for a split second and replied with, “No, I am Diabetic.” He then nodded his head as to accept my answer, gave me my receipt and began scanning the next customers items. As my wife and I strolled our cart over to the counter next to the checkout lines to bag and box our items, we looked at each other with puzzled frowns on our face but said nothing.

As we loaded our items up, I began thinking, what the hell was this guy talking about? I looked down at my pump and saw that it was not hidden by my shirt and that part of the tubing was hanging out. I also noticed that my medic alert necklace was not tucked into my shirt. Well, that may answer the question of how he knew that I was “treating” my Diabetes. Unfortunately, when it came to knowledge about Diabetes, he was as smart as a plate of mashed potatoes. It really got me thinking about where he got his information about insulin and Diabetes. I sure hope that a friend or relative of his doesn’t have diabetes and mis represented what it was. I felt that I lost a few brain cells just interacting with someone who is so far off base on what insulin or Diabetes is.

It’s kind of scary to think that there are people out there that are so uneducated about Diabetes and the medications associated with it that they think we (as Diabetics) are allergic to the thing that keeps us alive.

As sick as it is, I kind of laughed as I left the store knowing that that guy, not being very friendly or nice,  was that uneducated about Insulin (and likely even more so about Diabetes.) I kind of kick myself now for not being able to come up with a really good response for that. Oh well…

No Diabetes related posts today

Everyone, have a happy and safe 4th of July

Yesterday, being tagged as CGMS Denial Day by Gina Capone and adopted by those in the d-blogging world, got me thinking about my CGMS that I am currently paying out-of-pocket for. In January, when I put in a claim for for my Minimed 712 Insulin Pump, I also put a claim in for the REAL-Time glucose monitor. Well, I received an acceptance letter for my claim for the pump but nothing for the CGM. I knew that it was likely that the CGM would not be covered, but maybe I would be the exception to the rule in the CGMS coverage world so I figured I would give it some time. Well, March came around and still no word on the CGM claim, so I figured I would give Blue Cross a call and see what the hold up was.

Well, I am glad that I did call because from what the Customer Service Rep told me is that he did not have any claim showing up for my CGMS. So I went ahead and filled out a claim form and faxed it directly to him to process.

So, like I said, the day dedicated to CGMS denials got me thinking, “Whatever happened to my claim for my CGMS?” I decided this morning to go ahead and call Blue Cross again and see where we were with the resubmitted claim. When I called, as usual, I get the wonderful voice recognition menus. You’ve got to love these things…. NOT! After painfully getting through the menus, I get Darene, who seemed to be very nice. After she asked Blue Crosses’ normal questions, I explained the reason for my call.

“I am not seeing any claims in the system for a CGMS under hardware or prescriptions.” Well, of course not, because that would mean that the insurance company was doing their job.

She then told me that I should fill out another claim form and fax it directly to her so that she can get it processed. “I will give you a call after I receive your fax and look it over.” Well, that would be nice. A little (but just a little) reassurance that this one might actually get into the system. Not holding my breath but I guess we will see.

Now, I am fully expecting a denial letter from BlueCross but that is better than nothing at all. Without a Denial, I really can’t challenge being denied coverage if I haven;t been denied.

I will post again once I receive my denial letter (positive thinking, isn’t it?)

Update:

Well, since I posted this, Darene (the associate who I talked to earlier) has called me back again needing some additonal information. Even though I am not all that confident that the claim will be accepted first time thorugh, it is nice to know that finally, someone is taking the time to get the claim submitted. In order for her to process the claim, she needs a cost breakdown of each of the codes (A9276 for the Sensor, A9277 for the Transmitter and A9278 for the Receiver) that equal the $1000.00 for the CGMS. Considering I do not have this information, I guess it is another phone, this time to Medtronics, to get this claim going.

More info to come…

How many of us with Diabetes, have decided to take the plunge and try the latest in Diabetes management, the CGMS (Continuous Glucose Monitoring System), only to be denied coverage by our insurance companies, or who I like to call the “White Collar, White Coats” Well, I have been denied , but in a different way: I have been ignored. I continue to get the runaround from my otherwise acceptable insurance company. I have not received a denial letter because they continue to say that they have not received my claim. I have sent it in 3 different times with still no acceptance of receival by the “White Collar, White Coats” Well, Gina Capone of Tudiabetes.com and DiabetesTalkfest fame has officially dubbing July 1 as CGMS DENIAL DAY.

CGMS may not be something that is required for a Diabetic to live, but it is something that can improve the quality of life and extend the life of all Diabetics who use them. this is something that I have chosen to use even without the coverage from my insurance company. I do this because I would like to live a longer and healthier life and this is one way to help that.

I am going to continue to fight the White Collar White Coats and I will not stop until I am covered for my CGMS. For those of you, like me, who are not covered by your insurance for CGMS, here is a great site to help you in getting your CGMS covered:

CGMSCentral

Please click on the banner below to learn more about CGMS and CGMS DENIAL DAY

So, the time has come again for the Kansas City “Step Up” to fight Diabetes walk and fundraiser. Obviously this is something that is important to me and I am looking forward to the event this year. Unfortunately, last year, we had a severe thunder storm and the weather conditions were horrible, so that kind of took away from the event and festivities, but it was nice to see that people still showed up to show their support and make the most of a less than ideal day for the event. This year, I am looking forward to a day an event with better weather conditions, better turnout and even more fundraising.

Last year, I was able to raise a little over $500.00. I feel that I should be able to do that again this year, but I am going to push for more. This year my goal is $750.00. I should be able to make this goal. It will just take some work on my part and some generous giving on everyone elses part.

For all of you out there who follow my blog and for those who know others affected by this disease one way or another, I’d just ask that you give to help me meet and exceed my goal.

Here is the link for my page:

Step Out and Fight Diabetes

I will try and keep everyone updated as to the progress. For all of you who have events coming to your area, make sure to sign up and raise money.

Hello everyone, As you can see, my blog is not what it use to be. I have been in hibernation for the last few months and have busy with other things and projects, so I have not had the time to spend on my blog. Well, I am hoping to change that now. I have been wanting to get back to writing and “blogging” about myself, Diabetes and everything in between.

You will also notice that the layout of my blog is pretty much in flux. I had noticed an increasing slow response from my admin page and sometimes even timing out before being able to bring up a page. So, as apprehensive as I was to do it, I completely wiped out the site (database and all) and started from scratch. this does mean that all my previous posts are now gone but I have come to terms with it and am ok. So, my next step to get back up and running is to redesign the layout. I will do my best to post as well as design but I really want to get the look of the blog on point before I go much further.

So, yes, I am back and hope to be back up and posting regularly very, VERY soon.