By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Dr. Gina Lynem-Walker The average American anticipates spending more than $900 during the holiday season. Despite efforts to set a budget, 58 percent of families go beyond their means and a quarter are willing to withdraw money from retirement funds, emergency…
By: Dr. S. George Kipa, MD, deputy chief medical officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Recent studies indicate that nearly half of the 500,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan member visits to the emergency room (ER) in 2015 were inappropriate or potentially avoidable. The average cost of a non-emergency ER room visit is $750, but can cost…
By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan More than 102 million American adults have unhealthy cholesterol levels. Because there are no symptoms, many individuals with high cholesterol remain unaware that they carry a higher risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions.…
By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Knowing that one in three Michigan children are overweight or obese, it’s crucial that parents understand the best approach to discussions around health. The physical, mental and emotional consequences of ignoring a child’s health largely outweigh the discomfort one might feel…
By: GraceDerocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Nearly one in three Michigan children between the ages of 10 and 17 are overweight or obese. Unfortunately, rates of obesity in U.S. adults have also been on the rise for the last decade. Establishing healthy habits as a family creates a…
By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan According to a recent report, U.S. adults working an average of 47 hours per week struggle to establish a work-life balance. When the kids are headed back to school, managing time can be especially challenging for busy parents. Thankfully, small changes…
