If You Can Deduct Medical Expenses - Here are Possibilities for Diabetics

Flexible Spending Plan - Section 125 Cafeteria Plan

Please Check with your Accountant or CPA for a complete list of deductible expenses for Diabetics. This list of deductions are meant to alert you to possibilities of medical expense deductions if you file a 1040 and itemize your medical deductions.

Accepted Over-The-Counter Items

Diabetic Lancets

Diabetic Supplies

Diabetic Test Strips

Glucose Meters

Deductible Expenses In curred for Services by Medical Professionals

Chiropractors Fees

The Cost of Diagnostic Services

Eye examinations related to Diabetes

Laboratory Fees

Optometrists Fees

Osteopaths Fees

Physicians Fees

The Cost of Sexual Inadequacy treatment conducted by Psychiatrists at

a Hospital related to diabetes.

Specialists Fees like a Diabetologist

Surgeons Fees

Deductible expenses Incurred for Services by Persons Other than Medical Professionals

The Cost of a Guide to Assist a Blind Person walking to School

Fees for participation in a Weight Loss Program prescribed by a Doctor for the treatment of Obesity in a Diabetic.

Deductible Capital Expenses

The Cost of Artificial Limbs for a Diabetic Amputee

The Cost of an Autoette (a small three wheeled vehicle) or wheelchair used primarily to alleviate illness.

The Excess Cost of Braille Books and Magazines bought for a visually impaired person over the cost of Regular Printed Editions.

The Cost of Educational Devices for a Child going blind form Diabetes.

The Cost of Eye Glasses

The Cost of a Leader Dog and Training for a Blind Person

The Cost of a Dog trained to detect a persons Blood Sugar Level

Deductible Expenses Incurred for Medicine, Special Foods

The Cost of Prescription Drugs

The Cost of Insulin

The Cost of Vitamins prescribed by a Doctor for treating Disease

The Cost of Special Low or No Sugar Food (Check on Latest IRS Rulings)

Deductible Expenses Incurred for Care by Hospitals and Other Institutions

Amounts paid for In-Patient Hospital Care

Deductible Educational Expenses

The Cost of Attending a Special School that Teaches Braille or Lip Reading.

Deductible Transportation Expenses

Car expenses incurred to obtain Medical Care

The Rental Cost of a Car that is Essential to obtaining Medical Care and is used primarily for that purpose.

See your CPA or Accountant for other Transportation Expenses allowed

Deductible Meal and Lodging Expenses

Meals and Lodging at a Hospital in connection with In-Patient Hospital Care.

See your CPA or Accountant for other Transportation Expenses

Sugar - Why is it Important

Sugar in Metabolism

Lets look at the answer first. It makes possible the manufacture of ATP in each and every living cell and, for diabetics, the use of the glucose for cellular metabolism.

From my point of view, the whole purpose of our body systems is to make a perfect environment for a biological enzyme. (catalyst, in inorganic chemistry)

All of the chemical reactions in our living bodies occur at 98.6 degrees F. Remember in HS Chemistry how we used to heat up test tubes of reactants, in the presence of a catalyst, to very high temperatures until something significant happened? Well, not too many were interested in Science back then but the result is - yes!

A biological enzyme has a component (part) that is very sensitive to the following partial list of things that cancel its ability to make a chemical reaction take place unless regulated perfectly by your body systems. This regulation is called homeostasis.

Temperature

pH

Concentration of electrolytes

Presence of oxygen

Food - sugars, fats and proteins

Ridding the body of waste.

Lets see, from this basic short list, what we our body systems do to make a perfect environment for an enzyme to function.

Temperature:

If the temperature varies a few degrees upward or downward from 98.6 degrees F or 37 degrees C the shape of the biological enzyme changes. The word to describe this change is denaturization. Basically, the enzyme can no longer catalyze the chemical reaction it was targeted to because its specific shape was altered.

A biological enzyme is specific for a certain step in a chemical reaction. If it is changed, in any way, it can no longer carry out its function. 

If you want to see denaturization happen, to a protein, a component of enzymes in a living system, go fry an egg. Before you fry the egg you break it open and the contents appear in a frying pan. The clear liquid surrounding the yellow yolk is a protein called albumin. Notice its physical properties observable to the human eye. The albumin, before heating, is a liquid and it is clear. When you heat the egg in the frying pan the physical appearance of the albumin changes. It is now white (it no longer appears transparent) and it changed from a liquid to a solid. It was denatured by the heat.

Why does life flourish on our wonderful planet? Water resists changes in temperature. It takes a formidable amount of heat energy gain or loss to change the temperature of water in our body. Isn't that great to have a drink of water. It is the perfect solvent of everything that is us! A biological enzyme lasts for a long time in our bodies. 

Sometimes we become infected with "bugs" , known as bacteria and/or viruses. They have a very fragile existence and small changes in temperature affect them sooner than our cells. Thats why we have a fever when we get sick. The body is making the bacteria's existence hard, if not impossible. If the body temperature does not do the job our body become vulnerable. Thats when you must see a doctor as quickly as possible.

Simple sugar, like glucose, is the number one ingredient each and every cell in your body uses to make ATP. The ATP makes its possible for you to live properly. Thats why insulin is necessary to make it possible for all your cells to take up glucose for cellular metabolism.

See how important simple sugar is for you and insulins proper regulation is to making glucose uptake available for your cells!

Diabetes Insipidus and ADH deficiency

Diabetes Insipidus and ADH Deficiency

One of the problems with you and me is the fact that we are lay people. I have some training but not at the level of a Diabetologist.

One of the symptoms of diabetes, already discussed on this blog, is the out-put of hugh amounts of urine and intense thirst. This condition is called (diabetes = overflow; insipidus = tasteless) distinguishes it from diabetis mellitus (mel = honey), in which insulin deficiency causes large amounts of blood glucose to be lost in the urine. In the past, urine was tasted to determine which type of diabetes the patient was suffering from.

The possible causes of diabetes insipidus can be caused by a blow to the head that damages the hypothalmus or the posterior pituitary. In either case, anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) release is deficient. Though inconvenient, the condition is not serious when the thirst center is operating properly and the person drinks enough water to prevent dehydration.

 Another reason people who are unconcious or comatose with head injuries are carefully monitored for excessive dehydration that can be life threatening.

This is a good time to defer to a Diabelologist, on your next visit, to answer some of your more involved questions on similar symptoms that may not be due to diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic Camps - Nationwide Experience and Education

Diabetic Camping Experiences

Many years ago Camp Midicha ,in Michigan, and Camp Needle Point in Wisconsin provided wonderful experiences in outdoor camping and fun from a variety of activities that many children took for granted.

Supervised by a full staff of physicians, nurses and counselors trained in the care of diiabetic children between the ages of six and sixteen, these camps were an instant hit.

The camp counselors were, back then, split between those with diabetes and those without diabetes. Insulin use was closely monitored because the increased exercise made their pre-camp dosage of insulin too high for camp activities. Adjustments were made and camp fun continued unabated.

At the same time as their children were attending camp the parents attended a learning session in Minnesota, at the International Diabetes Center in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

There, many topics were covered that enabled both the parents and children to have a deeper and significant understanding of the nature, treatment and future of diabetes in their lives together.

Here is a link on the Diabetic Camps nationwide that provide camping experiences for diabetics.