HJAR Nov/Dec 2023

46 NOV / DEC 2023 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS MEDICAID CGM UPDATES in Arkansas Medicaid COLUMN MEDICAID A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER of Arkansans struggle with diabetes and diabetes-related health issues every day. Arkansas has over 307,000 known diagnosed people with di- abetes, including 13% of our adult popula- tion. Estimates suggest that an additional 70,000 or more Arkansans have yet to be diagnosed. Another 800,000 Arkansans — about one third of adults inArkansas — have pre-diabetes. And the impact continues to grow. Arkan- sas is estimated to add and diagnose near- ly 18,000 new cases of diabetes each year. Ninety percent of diabetics have Type 2, noninsulin-dependent diabetes. The remain- ing 10%, often diagnosed in childhood, have Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes, a more complicated condition to manage. These people have a need for substantial attention to daily fluctuations in blood sugar levels and regular integration of diet and insulin admin- istration. Less than 1% of young Arkansans have diabetes, but there has been an increase in Type 2 diabetes in overweight adolescents over the last decade. Effective management of diabetes requires patient commitment and engagement to a lifetime clinical and lifestyle plan. Medication,