Medikeeper launches in June for diabetics

by Krystal Paco

Guam - With four dialysis centers on island and plans to build a fifth, health professionals admit we're moving in the wrong direction. Department of Public Health and Social Services diabetes prevention and control's Patrick Luces admits - we have to take charge of our health and wellness now, as an estimated 60% of Guam residents are overweight or obese, both contributors to chronic disease.

"Diabetes on Guam and along with all the other chronic diseases heart disease stroke cancer and diabetes are the top four leading causes of death on Guam. It can easily be prevented through behavior change reduction in smoking and alcohol and of course increase of nutrition and physical activity and the reduction of obesity," James Roberts said.

But there is hope, as Roberts, the Guam diabetes project manager for Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, reports there's a tool for diabetics to take control of their health. "Medikeeper is a system that allows those with diabetes to keep track of vital health measurements weight their glucose measurements their hemoglobin measurements all the measurements," he said.

The web-based tool, which launches in June, is available for free to the first thousand Medicare-eligible Guam residents. "And if there's any good news about diabetes, it's the fact that it's a manageable disease," he said.

The program gives a snapshot of the user's health and with permission, could be viewed by the medical provider and family members.