Latest news with #diabetes
BBC News
40 minutes ago
- Health
- BBC News
South London man shares his distress over Royal Mail delays
A man says he and his unwell mother have gone almost two months without receiving critical NHS appointment letters due to ongoing postal delivery failures in south Marwaha, who lives with his mum in a flat in Hackbridge, claimed since April they had not received letters in the post which had led to missed appointments."I have diabetes, high blood pressure, and I've had a bad infection recently. My mum has diabetes too. She needs those appointments, and they're just not arriving," he Mail told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that deliveries to Amit Marwaha's address had been taking place as normal and the company took "the timely delivery of mail very seriously". Mr Marwaha, who has lived in the property for 20 years, said he has also received multiple letters intended for others, including neighbours and people living on entirely different a result, Mr Marwaha said his mother was "panicking" about where her private health information might be being delivered the NHS letters, they are also missing financial documents, including bank statements and utility bills, and worry that sensitive information could also be misdelivered, he Marwaha said his mother was "really behind on her bills" after not receiving them."My neighbour has come to give me my letters sent to their house," he said. He said he had repeatedly raised concerns with local postal workers, but was told there was no post for Marwaha said he had made numerous complaints to Royal Mail, only to be told the post would arrive shortly - but these promises have not yet been fulfilled."They said I would receive all my mail in 72 hours after I complained, but none of it came," he said. "They've never even come back to me or said sorry."Last week, it was reported that Royal Mail performance data shows 71% of first-class post in Sutton, where Hackbridge is located, was delivered on time between January and March 2024, far below the 93% legal target. 'Extra safeguards' In a bid to confirm something was wrong, he posted a letter to himself almost four weeks ago. "It still hasn't come," he said. "I knew then something was wrong."I would like to get my mail, so would my neighbours. It's really stressed me out."Royal Mail said, according to its records, post was delivered to Mr Marwaha's address on five separate occasions between 12 and 23 June.A spokesperson said "extra safeguards" had been put in to ensure post was delivered to his flat."Two long-serving postmen, who are familiar with the residents and their circumstances, regularly speak with the customers and let them know whether or not mail has arrived that day," they added.
Health Line
11 hours ago
- Health
- Health Line
How much does Farxiga cost with Medicare?
Farxiga can cost up to $600 without insurance, with costs varying by pharmacy and whether you choose the brand or the generic. With Medicare coverage, your out-of-pocket costs depend on your plan. Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a medication for helping lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart and kidney issues for those with type 2 diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease. With Medicare, drug overage usually comes through a Medicare Part D or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan. But whether your plan covers Farxiga and how much the drug will cost after coverage depends on your plan. How much does Farxiga cost per month with Medicare? Depending on where you get it, the cost of Farxiga without insurance can be over $600. The generic version, dapagliflozin, still costs more than $400. Farxiga can be covered by Medicare Part D or a MAPD plan. However, whether this medication or its generic version is covered by your Medicare drug plan and how much the plan will cover depends on its specific list of covered drugs, called a formulary. Private insurers manage Medicare drug plans and will have a different list depending on the plan. In addition, keep in mind that Medicare drug plans also have a deductible, premium, and copay that can vary depending on the plan. In 2025, the national base beneficiary premium for Part D is $36.78. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans is $17. What tier is Farxiga on? Within your plan's formulary, the insurer will place Farxiga in a tier. Generally, the higher the tier, the more you'll pay as a copayment, with the generic version typically in a lower tier than the brand-name drug. Many Medicare drug plans should include Farxiga, though its tier will depend on your plan. If your plan doesn't include this drug, it may include an alternative and equally effective medication. Generally, Medicare drug plans must cover at least two drugs from the most commonly prescribed categories. If the plan includes it and classifies it in a higher tier, your insurer may require prior authorization for coverage, which could include Step Therapy. This means you'll be asked to try a different, equally effective, but more cost-effective medication first before Medicare will approve coverage for Farxiga. Takeaway Farxiga is a drug designed to help lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart and kidney issues for those with type 2 diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease. Without insurance, the cost of Farxiga can range from around $400 to $600, depending on the pharmacy and whether you choose the brand-name or generic version. Usually, Medicare drug coverage comes through a Medicare Part D plan. While your exact coverage and costs for Farxiga depend on the specifics of your plan, many Medicare plans should cover this medication. Plus, once Medicare's price negotiation agreement starts in 2026, the price with coverage should be more affordable. The information on this website may assist you in making personal decisions about insurance, but it is not intended to provide advice regarding the purchase or use of any insurance or insurance products. Healthline Media does not transact the business of insurance in any manner and is not licensed as an insurance company or producer in any U.S. jurisdiction. Healthline Media does not recommend or endorse any third parties that may transact the business of insurance.
Telegraph
18 hours ago
- Telegraph
‘Travelodge tried to silence me with £89 after I was attacked by bed bugs'
Has a company treated you unfairly? Our Consumer Champion is available to help. For how to contact her click here. Dear Katie, For my birthday, I stayed at the Leicester City Centre Travelodge on May 26 for one night, and suffered the most dreadful shock during the night. I started feeling itchy, and thought something was biting me. When I searched the bed sheets, I found they were riddled with bed bugs. As it turns out, the room was severely infested, and not in any way fit for guests to stay in. I reported it to reception the next morning, where a staff member reviewed the photos and videos that I took. She was very apologetic, and said the manager would get in touch that same day to arrange compensation. However, no one ever did. Not only was this a horrible taint on my birthday, but I've also got underlying health issues including diabetes, which means my skin doesn't heal as fast as other people's. The stress of all this has seen my diabetes markers increase, and I have to seek medical advice. After chasing a few times, someone from Travelodge's customer services team finally responded. He confirmed that 'an infestation of pests was found in your room', which has apparently since been treated. He offered a full room refund of £38.99, as well as £50 compensation, but only if I agreed to a confidentiality clause preventing me from telling anyone about the incident or posting online. Quite honestly, this feels really off to me. Do you think this is a reasonable offer considering what happened? – Anon Dear reader, I was so sorry to hear that your birthday night away was ruined by this infestation of micro predators that feed on human blood during the night. Following the initial horror of discovering the room was severely infested with the pests, you've been left with scores of itchy red bites all over your skin. Possibly due to your diabetes, these have not healed after a few weeks, and since your wedding is coming up in just a couple of months, you are extremely stressed about them disappearing in time for your big day. Given the stress caused, you feel Travelodge's offer of £88.50 – if you sign a confidentiality clause to say you won't tell anyone about it – is unacceptable, and I completely agree with you. Especially after the way your serious complaint was pushed into the long grass and ignored. In fact, I have rarely heard of a company asking anyone to sign a confidentiality agreement for such a laughable amount of money before, so I was more than happy to take up your case. I told Travelodge that I felt the amount of compensation was far too low, and that you would not be happy to remain silent about your experience or any compensation you receive. You had already told me for a start, and I was planning to write an article about it in a national newspaper. It got back to you with a significantly higher offer of £500, which it said was 'full and final'. You asked me whether I thought this was fair, and I said I felt this amount certainly felt more proportional to the degree of suffering you had been subjected to. However, I warned you under no circumstances to accept the offer as 'full and final'. This was because there was now a very real risk that you could have inadvertently taken the bed bugs home and your own bedroom could be infested. After all, this is how bed bugs are spread – it's not necessarily because of poor hygiene or uncleanliness. Once they take hold in homes, they can be a nightmare to exterminate, potentially costing thousands of pounds to remove. So you replied saying you would accept the £500 on the basis that you reserve the right to bill Travelodge should a subsequent infestation arise at your home. Travelodge came back and offered to send out a pest control expert to your home to proactively inspect it and treat any infestation it finds, which we were both very happy to accept. However, there was a catch – it was not prepared to remove the confidentiality clause. I phoned its press office to let it know I was running this story with all the details, meaning the clause was pointless. Their reply was: 'Policy is policy.' Happily, just before this article went to press, common sense prevailed. Travelodge changed its mind and dropped the need for confidentiality from the agreement. It is still happy to pay you the compensation though, and organise the pest control visit. You have accepted its terms and will move on with your life. I wish you all the best with your upcoming nuptials, and sincerely hope the itchy bites are gone by then. A Travelodge spokesman said: 'We are very sorry to hear about the customer's recent stay with us. The safety and wellbeing of our customers is always our priority and we have robust prevention measures in place for bed bugs, an issue that affects the hospitality industry. 'Instances of bed bugs are extremely rare in our hotels, and we train our housekeeping colleagues to be vigilant and to spot early signs wherever possible. 'We have carried out a thorough investigation into the matter, apologised and offered her a gesture of goodwill. We hope that we can welcome her back to our hotels in the future and reinstate her faith in our brand.'
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Diabetic patients taking GLP-1s may face increased risk of eye disease, study suggests
Diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in people between 18 and 64 years old, according to the American Diabetes Association — and the best way to prevent this is to control blood sugar levels. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, have become popular medications for controlling diabetes and treating obesity — but new Canadian research suggests they can also lead to a paradoxical side effect in the form of eye problems. Young Police Officer Dies By Suicide After 'Debilitating' Laser Eye Surgery Complications A retrospective study conducted from January 2020 to November 2023 included more than 139,000 diabetic patients, some of whom were taking GLP-1s for at least six months and some who were not taking the medications over a three-year period. The average age of the participants was 66 years old, and approximately 47% were women. Researchers found that the participants taking the weight-loss medications had twice the risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) compared to the people not taking them. Read On The Fox News App "There have been growing reports of [eye] adverse events with GLP-1 receptor agonists, but no clear consensus regarding their impact on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression," study author Dr. Rajeev Muni, an ophthalmologist and vice-chair of clinical research in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto, told Fox News Digital. 6 Simple Ways To Protect Your Hearing Now Before It's Too Late, According To Experts "In particular, we observed a dose-response relationship — the longer patients were exposed to these medications, the greater their risk appeared to be," added author Reut Shor, a researcher in the department of ophthalmology and vision sciences at the University of Toronto. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in those aged 50 and older in the developing world, according to the American Society of Retinal Specialists. Approximately 20 million adults in the U.S. have the condition. It mainly affects people's central vision, which means they have a challenging time seeing in front of them, but their peripheral vision is intact, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). There are two types of AMD – dry and wet. Dry AMD, the most common type, occurs when small yellow deposits of protein develop under the macula, but symptoms may not occur in the early stages, experts said. In about two out of every 10 cases, dry AMD develops into wet AMD — also known as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). With this more advanced type of disease, abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and start to leak, causing damage to the central part of the retina, known as the macula, according to WebMD. "When this occurs, symptoms include loss of central vision, distortions in vision and blank areas missing in the central vision," Nishika Reddy, M.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology at Moran Eye Center's Midvalley Health Center at the University of Utah, told Fox News Digital. (She was not part of the study.) Risk factors for nAMD include chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease and diabetes – all of which often overlap with those who take GLP-1s, experts confirmed. The study authors cautioned that their findings should be taken in the context of the overall higher risk of eye disease in older people. The incidence of nAMD in the general population is about one in 1,000, and it doubled to two in 1,000 for the group taking the GLP-1s in the study. However, the overall absolute risk is still small, according to the researchers. The study's main limitation is that it was observational in nature, meaning the researchers could not confirm that GLP-1s medications cause neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The study also could not draw conclusions about younger populations, the researchers acknowledged. "Also, our findings apply only to diabetic patients aged 66 years or older, and cannot be directly generalized to non-diabetic individuals using GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss," Shor told Fox News Digital. GLP-1 receptors are present in the retina regardless of age or diabetes status — so theoretically, the risk could apply to younger populations. More research is needed to better understand why diabetic people on GLP-1s have increased eye disease, Shor said. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "While the risk of developing macular degeneration while on a GLP-1 drug is low, patients should be aware of the possible eye side effects related to these types of medications," Reddy said. If someone notices blurred or distorted vision, straight lines appearing wavy, or any new blind spots, they should seek medical attention, according to Muni. For more Health articles, visit Early detection of eye disease is crucial, experts agree, as timely treatment can reduce the risk of vision loss. The study authors said they hope their findings will empower patients to monitor for early article source: Diabetic patients taking GLP-1s may face increased risk of eye disease, study suggests
Medscape
a day ago
- Health
- Medscape
Diabetes Drug Tied to Decreased Dementia Risk in T2D
TOPLINE: Semaglutide was associated with a 20%-46% reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related dementia in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared with other antidiabetic medications, with a particularly strong protective effect against vascular dementia, new research showed. METHODOLOGY: Researchers examined electronic health records (EHRs) of more than 1.7 million US adults with T2D with or without obesity and with no prior diagnosis of AD or AD-related dementia. They compared semaglutide (n = 64,267 users) to seven other antidiabetic medications (n = 1,646,728 users) on the first-time diagnosis of AD-related dementia, as well as the subtypes of vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Lewy body dementia, during a 3-year follow-up. The other antidiabetic medications included insulin, metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione, and first-generation GLP-1 receptor agonists (albiglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, and lixisenatide). Secondary outcomes included prescriptions of dementia-related medications. TAKEAWAY: Semaglutide was associated with a significantly reduced risk for AD-related dementia compared to insulin (hazard ratio [HR], 0.54), metformin (HR, 0.67), and older GLP-1 receptor agonists (HR, 0.80). Protection against vascular dementia was also greater for semaglutide compared to insulin (HR, 0.48), metformin (HR, 0.55), and GLP-1 receptor agonists (HR, 0.67). No significant associations were found between the use of semaglutide and the risk for FTD or Lewy body dementia. The link between semaglutide and reduced AD-related dementia risk vs insulin, metformin, and GLP-1 receptor agonists was stronger in younger adults (mean age, 51.7 years) compared to older adults (mean age, 70.9 years), with risk reductions ranging from 32% to 56% vs 20% to 39%. The use of semaglutide vs other antidiabetic medications was associated with significantly fewer prescriptions of dementia-related medications. IN PRACTICE: 'There is no cure or effective treatment for dementia, so this new study provides real-world evidence for its potential impact on preventing or slowing dementia development among at high-risk population,' Rong Xu, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, said in a press release. 'Future works are needed to establish causal relationships through randomized clinical trials and to characterize the underlying mechanisms,' the investigators wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by William Wang, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland. It was published online on June 24 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. LIMITATIONS: This retrospective, observational, EHR-based study was limited by potential over-, under-, or misdiagnosis; unmeasured confounders; and a short 3-year follow-up period. Diagnosis of AD-related dementia relied on International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes and prescription data, which may have lacked precision. This study also lacked data on medication adherence, cognitive function tracking, and genetic profiles, and could not fully adjust for variation of healthcare use. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by grants from the National Institute on Aging and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. One investigator reported being the editor in chief of the publishing journal but was not involved in the peer-review process. The other investigators reported having no relevant financial conflicts. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
