Today is American Diabetes Alert Day

Nearly 21 million people in the United States have diabetes, and almost one-third (6.2 million people) do not know they have it. 

Tuesday, March 25 is American Diabetes Alert Day. This special day is designated by the American Diabetes Association. It is a call-to-action for people to find out if they are at risk for diabetes. The goal is to raise awareness that this is a serious disease. 

Diabetes is very common, and I’m sure we all know someone who has it. The scary thing is that so many people have it and don’t know, so check out the diabetes risk test from the American Diabetes Association to see if you are at risk. Of course your doctor is the only one who can determine if you have the disease, but this quick test may help you determine your risk. 

Since many of the symptoms of diabetes seem harmless, the condition often is undiagnosed.  

Symptoms of diabetes may include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurry vision

For more information about diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association web site. There are many resources, including summaries of the latest diabetes research and great recipes.

And remember we are concerned about your health and your insurance needs.

At Preferred Benefits LLC we can help you do a realistic assessment of your current insurance portfolio. We can make suggestions that may save you money and in other cases even expand your coverage for the money you are currently spending. Such an assessment should be done annually.  

Please contact us for a FREE assessment of your insurance portfolio. This personalized customer service is a cornerstone of our business. We look forward to being of service to you. 

Valerie Reeves

Leticia Dominguez 

PREFERRED BENEFITS LLC 

TOLL-FREE 877-302-5810

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Exercise for Better Health

It’s the middle of March. Are you still on track with the New Year’s Resolutions you set just a few months ago? The goals we set for ourselves at the start of a new year often relate to our health – exercising more, losing weight, eating healthier, etc. Often these resolutions are gone as quickly as the confetti which brought in the New Year. If you need a little help staying on track with your exercise goals, keep reading. 

We found a great resource online, which allows individuals or groups to set a goal for physical activity and then track it for a six-week period. What a great way to stick with a goal of increased exercise for 2008. The site is www.americaonthemove.org.  

First you sign up, which is free. Then you can choose your challenge. Each challenge lists the total number of steps you will take during the six-week period. You can revise or change your challenge at any time, and you track your progress online. There are great resources to help you “add 2000 more steps each day” and “eat 100 fewer calories daily,” which are the two things most American’s need to do to stop weight gain, according to the site. 

Get the whole office involved by signing up as a group, or get family and friends active by becoming challenge buddies. 

There are so many benefits of exercise – weight control, increased energy, feeling and looking better, and often overall better physical health, which can also save money on your insurances. Let’s face it the healthier you are the better rates you can get!  

At Preferred Benefits LLC we can help you do a realistic assessment of your current insurance portfolio. We can make suggestions that may save you money and in other cases even expand your coverage for the money you are currently spending. Such an assessment should be done annually.  

Please contact us for a FREE assessment of your insurance portfolio. This personalized customer service is a cornerstone of our business. We look forward to being of service to you. 

Valerie Reeves

Leticia Dominguez 

PREFERRED BENEFITS LLC

TOLL-FREE 877-302-5810

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March is National Nutrition Month

Well we’ve gotten to March before we’ve talked about food. Maybe the holidays are far enough in the past that we’ve lost any weight gained by all the indulgences of that season.

March is National Nutrition Month®, and we have found some great resources online to help us personalize a plan for healthier eating. The American Dietetic Association sponsors this awareness month, and the theme this year is “Nutrition: It’s a Matter of Fact.” The goal is for people to focus on the facts about nutrition to develop better eating habits. Check out their site for more information. 

For a personalized approach to your nutrition plan, go to www.mypyramid.gov. In case you haven’t noticed, the food guide pyramid has changed substantially in recent history. This site is great, providing you with loads of information and great tools, such as:

·           MyPyramid Plan (telling you what quantities of each food group you need daily for your age, height and weight);

·           MyPyramid Tracker, a dietary and physical activity assessment tool;

·           Dietary Assessment – using information you submit about your food intake for one day;

·           Physical Activity Assessment. 

And if you have young children you must check out the MyPyramid Blast Off Game. It’s a fun way for them to learn about nutrition facts. They even get a printable certificate at the end if they successfully reach Planet Power. 

Here’s to happy and healthy eating! 

And don’t forget that at Preferred Benefits LLC we are concerned about your health and your insurance needs.  

We can help you do a realistic assessment of your current insurance portfolio. We can make suggestions that may save you money and in other cases even expand your coverage for the money you are currently spending. Such an assessment should be done annually.  

Please contact us for a FREE assessment of your insurance portfolio. This personalized customer service is a cornerstone of our business. We look forward to being of service to you. 

Valerie Reeves

Leticia Dominguez 

PREFERRED BENEFITS LLC

TOLL-FREE 877-302-5810

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National Sleep Awareness Week

How much sleep did you get last night? Most people would answer, “Not enough!” In doing research for our weekly blog tips for you, we have learned a few things:  

1. There are lots of awareness days, weeks and months for health-related issues; and 
2. There should be awareness days, weeks and months for health-related issues, because we are learning lots, and we hope you are too.

March 3-9 is National Sleep Awareness Week, and we have learned (well, we really already knew this, but it’s nice to have it confirmed) that sleep problems can affect our relationships, productivity at work, driving, and yes, even our health. 

Most experts agree that adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Preschool and school-age children need even more.  

To get a general idea of how much sleep is needed based on age, see the How Much Sleep Do You Really Need? Chart on the National Sleep Foundation web site.  

The accompanying article “How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?” is full of good information. Also available on the site are tons of tips for getting better sleep and things to look for if you have a sleep disorder. 

So, check out this information and then set a goal to get your optimum sleep each night. You’ll feel better and think better. Sweet dreams. Don’t let the bed bugs bite! 

At Preferred Benefits LLC we don’t want you to lose sleep over your insurance needs. We can help you do a realistic assessment of your current insurance portfolio. We can make suggestions that may save you money and in other cases even expand your coverage for the money you are currently spending. Such an assessment should be done annually.  

Please contact us for a FREE assessment of your insurance portfolio. This personalized customer service is a cornerstone of our business. We look forward to being of service to you. 

Valerie Reeves 

Leticia Dominguez 

PREFERRED BENEFITS LLC

TOLL-FREE 877-302-5810

Spread the word

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