December 2023
Glucose Isn’t the Only Thing Going Up
Ahhh… the Holidays. In theory, it sounds wonderful: wrapping up the year by sharing traditions and fun times with friends & family. But then reality sets in. Cold/dark weather can leave us depressed and less physically active than usual. Preparing for gatherings (and the gatherings themselves) can become stressful and impact our sleep. And the food, oh the food. Tasty stuff, and lots of it. All of which contributes to a rise in glucose levels.
I’ve always believed that it’s perfectly fine to take a “holiday” from diabetes management from time to time, just as long as you get back on track soon enough. We at IDS have taken a vacation that has gone on for far too long: a vacation from updating our prices. The fact is, we have not had a fee increase since prior to COVID. And that’s not fair to my staff who work hard and need to make ends meet for their families. For that, I take full responsibility. But at the same time, I recognize that many of our clients are on a tight budget and find it hard to pay out of pocket for healthcare services, no matter how valuable and important they might be.
So here’s what we’re going to do:
Starting January 1, 2024, we will be implementing a 10-15% across-the-board fee increase. If you have a retainer with us, nothing changes until your retainer is up. But if the fee increase will place a significant burden on you, let us know and we’ll waive it. It has been our policy since I started IDS back in 1995 to never exclude anyone due to an inability to afford our usual fees. We’ve all been through challenging times and know what it’s like to be on a tight budget, so please don’t feel nervous or embarrassed about asking for a price break. Talk to us! We’re happy to find a solution that works for you. Finances should never get in the way of receiving the quality care you deserve.
On another note, Think Like A Pancreas: The Podcast launched in late November and is quickly moving up the Diabetes “Billboard Charts.” We’re committed to making our podcasts fun, informative must-listening for anyone who wants the truth about what’s going on in the world of diabetes care. New half-hour programs will appear each Wednesday until the end of December. To access previous and current programs, click here: Think Like A Pancreas: THE PODCAST
I hope you enjoy our December edition of Diabetes Bites. Your feedback and suggestions are always appreciated. Feel free to email me directly with any comments: gary@integrateddiabetes.com.
As always, if there is anything we can do to assist you in reaching your diabetes goals, either in English or Spanish, please reach out by calling 877-735-3648 (+1 610-642-6055 outside North America) or emailing info@integratediabetes.com.
Very Happy Holidays to You and Yours!
Gary Scheiner MS, CDCES
Owner, Clinical Director
