For many people, the journey to better health doesn’t start with a major breakthrough. It starts with a quiet moment of honesty.
That was the case for K, a 57-year-old grandmother living in Alaska, who self-enrolled in Premera Blue Cross’ Wellframe Case Management program in May 2024. When K connected with Randi, a Premera dietitian care manager, she wasn’t particularly optimistic or motivated. She was exhausted, grieving, and unsure whether anything could really help her.
“I’ve had trouble managing my weight since I was a kid,” K shared. “I want to change, but there’s so much in the way.”
Ks lifelong struggle with obesity was chief among those obstacles. Now, that struggle was complicated by other factors, including multiple chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes, asthma, and Stage 3 chronic kidney disease.
On top of her physical health issues, K was coping with losing her husband of 28 years, working a demanding graveyard shift, raising her grandkids, and an apartment that was frequently impacted by flooding. With all these issues in play, it’s all too easy to see why K’s health, and the work of weight loss, had taken a back seat in her life.
Meeting members where they are
Randi started her relationship with K by actively listening to her needs and developing an understanding the challenges that had made weight loss difficult for her in the past. She met K with empathy and patience, building trust one conversation at a time. Through the Wellframe app, the two stayed connected daily and began working through the barriers K faced as a team.
Randi’s weight loss coaching focused on educating K about sustainable lifestyle changes that could make weight loss easier while not requiring huge changes to her day-to day life. That coaching included:
- Sharing tips on planning meals that accommodated K’s night shift schedule
- Providing guidance on strength-building and protein intake while using a GLP-1 medication
- Directing K to resources that helped her revisit hobbies she had abandoned like beading
- Connecting K with in-network physical therapists, grief support, and wellness programs
- Encouraging and reminding K to follow up with her primary care and nephrology teams to better manage her chronic conditions.
Little by little, with unwavering support and coaching from support from Randi, K made changes she could sustain.
She started walking more often with her grandkids. She made time to plan and prepare healthier meals. Over time, the small changes K made started adding up, resulting in big progress toward her personalized goals.
Small steps make a big impact
In just four months, K made significant progress on her weight loss goals, and saw those changes postiviely impact her overall health. With Randi and the Wellframe app in her corner, K:
- Lost 19 pounds
- Reduced her body mass index (BMI) by 3 points
- Lowered her A1C blood sugar from 7.5% to 5.6%
- Saw improved kidney function, confirmed by her nephrologist
- Reported better control of her asthma symptoms
Her doctors were thrilled, encouraging her to keep doing the work she had started with Randi. They shared thoughts like “We’re very pleased about the work with the dietitian. The program is really neat.” and reminded her that “There’s still time to turn your kidney disease around.”
But K’s progress goes deeper than just improved test results and lost weight. With Randi’s support, K has come to understand what fuels her health, what holds her back, and how to connect seemingly minor everyday choices with real results for her health and wellbeing. She’s learning to prioritize her own health and wellness while she continues to support her family and community.
Empowering Members for the Long Term
At Premera, we believe that real healthcare doesn’t start or end in the doctor’s office. It’s about the choices that we make when life is messy, complicated, and real. K’s journey is a testament to what happens when people are supported with tools, education, and someone like Randi who truly listens.
Want to learn more about how Premera supports members?
Visit Premera.com or sign in to your member account through our mobile app to find out what programs and support may be available for you.
