Chances are you’ll be able to read this entire post because I’ve kept it under 500 words and written it as a listicle. If you get called away to stop a potential disaster, you can jump back in at the next bullet point. I know my audience. We are distracted, pulled in many directions, and looking for tips we can…
As you prepare to send your children to school, if they don’t have life-threatening food allergies, try to take a second to think of us parents who do. I am getting ready to send my son, my only child, off to school and I am relying on his teacher and other parents and students to keep him safe so he…
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…
In Michigan, when grandparents are denied access to their grandchild they can petition the court for grandparent visitation rights. The process can be an uphill battle because there are restrictions on their ability to do so successfully. The biggest obstacle to grandparents petitioning for visitation rights is that parents have a Constitutionally protected fundamental right to raise their children without…
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…
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Each year more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide leaving countless family members and friends behind to piece their lives back together. 90% of those who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental illness. Too often individuals avoid treatment due to stigma or lack of resources. Below are resources available in our area for…
By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Although many people aspire to exercise more in the new year, nearly 80 percent of adults fail to meet the recommendation for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity. In order to achieve any fitness goal, it’s important to take a step back and determine what’s possible based on health history, lifestyle, interests and abilities. Consider this step-by-step guide to kick…
Warm up this winter and celebrate National Soup Month with our healthier version of lasagna. This soup recipe will still satisfy your pasta cravings and leave you feeling full without over-indulging in carbs or heavy amounts of cheese. Bonus: your slow cooker will do all of the work for you so you can have a hassle-free meal ready for…
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…
Okay, so for those of you who know me this next sentence you’re about to read won’t come as a shock: I am a worrier. I worry about pretty much everything. I worry about car crashes and stairs. I worry about their heads when they are on bicycles and I worry about their ankles when they’re in roller skates. I…
The Tragedy Most of us here in the Detroit area woke up and turned on the Monday morning news show October 2nd with no idea of what happened around 10pm local time in Las Vegas. For some we chose to and were able to shield our children from the news and the videos taken during the mass shooting, Others were…
When it comes to car seats, one thing you can count on is options. You have options within a budget, within a weight bracket, within a height bracket, and options for vehicle fit. There are two types of car seats that will fit infants; convertibles and rear-facing only. Convertibles can be used rear-facing and forward facing for many years, so…
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: 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…
Manufactured products, such as car seats can be recalled on occasion. Often, the recall is simple and only requires a basic fix – a new label or an updated manual. If this happens, you can continue to use the product while the fix is obtained. However, recalls can also be more serious and/or even life threatening, in which case you…
