Posts for UPHP News
This week, learn about the Hemoglobin A1c test, how it tracks your blood sugar, and why it’s vital for managing diabetes. Plus, discover how diabetes impacts your kidneys, the warning signs of kidney issues, and tips to keep them healthy. Let’s navigate diabetes together!
Watch this week’s video: https://youtu.be/lgZ87oGYkAw
Mark & Walt in the Morning learned more about Dr. Francis Darr, who stepped into the role of UPHP Medical Director in August 2025.
Dr. Darr spoke about his new role and more with Mark & Walt in the Morning.
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune condition that affected 11.6% of Americans in 2021. But managing it is more than just monitoring blood sugar — it’s a daily practice in resilience, responsibility, and independence.
Today, we’re sharing Tori’s story to shed light on what it’s really like living with this diagnosis.
Watch this week’s video: https://youtube.com/shorts/qskcLMlrjmY?
Learn more:
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Men are less likely than women to visit a doctor, often avoiding it because they don’t want to hear bad news about their health. If diabetes goes undetected or untreated, it can cause serious problems like heart disease, strokes, blindness, kidney damage, and the loss of toes or legs. It can also impact men’s sexual health.
Read more: Diabetes and Men | Diabetes | CDC
Watch this week’s video: https://youtube.com/shorts/DpLAK2EK_o4
With each new year, comes discussions on resolutions and how we are going to do things differently this year. For those living with diabetes or prediabetes, this may involve significant lifestyle adjustments. Setting a realistic goal with a clear plan for achieving them can be really helpful. Setting a SMART framework helps to define goals effectively. Learn more: https://type2diabetes.com/living/setting-smart-goal
Watch this week’s video: https://youtube.com/shorts/tznMBgjvG68
While you can’t prevent autoimmune and genetic kinds of diabetes, you can do things to lower your chances of getting prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Learn more: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7104-diabetes#preventionmatters https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-prevention/art-20047639
Watch this week’s video: https://youtube.com/shorts/cBrO7rPOFvU
Drinking alcoholic drinks while living with diabetes requires a degree of caution whether or not you live with diabetes. However, adding diabetes to the mix adds some complications and danger. Learn more: https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/alcohol-and-diabetes https://health.clevelandclinic.org/drinking-alcohol-and-diabetes-do-they-mix
Watch this week’s video: https://youtube.com/shorts/C71xDRIG2ss
The amount of sugar in our favorite beverages can be surprising! Today Mary is going show you how much. Learn more about drinking more water and soda stream tips: http://main.diabetes.org/dforg/pdfs/Collabs/sodastream-what-can-i-drink-tips.pdf https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition/eating-healthy/why-drink-more-water
What this week’s video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/skvPg-h-uGk
Diabetes burnout is a very real challenge. Today, care manager Katie Helppi returns to share insights on how to recognize it, manage it, and move forward with renewed strength.
Watch this week’s video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/6XtSohC3nVE
UPHP’s Business Development Specialist Jenn Wieczorek shares more information on the MI Health Link to MI Coordinated Health transition at Upper Peninsula Health Plan. Watch the interview here: New health plan for Medicare, Medicaid qualifiers to start in January.
Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP) MI Coordinated Health (HMO D-SNP) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and Michigan Medicaid to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees. Enrollment in UPHP MI Coordinated Health depends on contract renewal.