- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Living with diabetes blog
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May 11, 2012
Managing the cost of diabetes
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
In this tough economy, it can be challenging to manage the cost of diabetes care. If you're one of the many unemployed or underemployed individuals, you may be without health insurance. Even with good health and without any outstanding medical bills, monthly medical expenses add up, from co-pays for prescription medications to non-prescription items such as healthy food.
It's been reported that in these challenging economic times, people with diabetes have cut back on — or even gone without — doctor visits, insulin, medications and blood-sugar testing as they've lost income and health insurance.
Looking for ways to spend less money may be difficult if you have diabetes. But if you have diabetes and don't closely monitor and control your disease, you dramatically increase your risk for diabetes complications. The cost of treating such complications can be much greater than what might be spent on medications and supplies.
The American Diabetes Association offers the following tips for helping manage the cost of diabetes care:
Diabetes medications
- Don't stop taking medications or reduce the dose of medications without first discussing it with your doctor.
- Discuss medication costs with your health care provider. Ask for equivalent generic medications whenever possible. Then, shop around for the best prices.
- If you're on more than one medication for diabetes, discuss the possibility of taking a combination diabetes drug with your health care provider.
- Check with your local and state governments and local community centers and clinics for diabetes medication and supply prescription assistance. Many state governments have programs to help those who don't qualify for Medicaid.
- Some drug companies offer assistance to those without drug coverage. You can inquire by calling the drug company directly.
Diabetes supplies
- First, if you have health insurance, know what your policy covers.
- Order test strips in bulk. A 100-count box of test strips is cheaper than a 50-count box. Ask your health care provider to order bulk sizes.
- Research ordering strips through the mail, such as a 90-day supply. Many insurance plans charge a lower co-pay for this.
- Look for generic brand meters and supplies.
- Free blood glucose monitors are easy to come by. Don't get the first free glucose meter that you see, as the long-term cost is in the strips.
- It's not necessary to buy alcohol swabs; cleaning well with soap and water is all you need.
- If you can't afford to test as much as you'd like, talk to your health care provider or diabetes educator about a testing schedule that's feasible for you.
Insulin and related supplies
- Check with your diabetes health care provider or educator as to how long you can use your insulin once opened. It differs by type of insulin. Write the start date on your insulin vial or pen.
- Compare the cost of an insulin pen with the cost of a vial. If you're on small doses of insulin, an insulin pen may be cheaper in the long run, because you throw less insulin away at the end of the month.
- If you use a pump, explore all options for covering the cost of the pump and supplies.
- Buy syringes in bulk.
- If you buy insulin in bulk, make sure to check the expiration date and use the insulin before it expires.
The price of good diabetes control is high, but the long-term cost of not staying healthy is higher. In what ways are you managing the cost of diabetes care?
Peggy
8 comments posted
March 26, 2013 9:25 a.m.
i just found out that i have type 2 and i cant afford a meter or the stripes could someone help me please thank u so much
- lori
November 21, 2012 3:44 p.m.
I had been buying my insulin in Canada - it came packed in a box with surrounding ice packs. It is not available anymore and I am paying 3X the price. Why is US insulin SO dang expensive? I bought some in France years ago and it was less expensive there too. WALMART has the least expensive test strips with their meter ReliOn.
- Louanne
October 29, 2012 1:24 p.m.
Good news: I heard an ad that Walgreen's is offering their house brand of test strips for about $15. Yes, you'd have to buy their Walgreen's meter, too, but that is only $20 or so. I didn't catch how big a supply you would get for the $15.00; however, this sounds like it's worth looking into! Especially for the uninsured. The test strips I use (currently covered by my insurance) average over $700.00 for a 90-day supply. Isn't that outrageous! If I lose my insurance I will definitely check out what Walgreen's is offering!
- Linda A
August 23, 2012 10:23 p.m.
I had my first A1C approx. 6 mos. ago, and result was a 7.7. I was determined to change my eating habits and used no medication. 6 months later I had my second test. I am 5' 5", 115 lbs, 669 years old. The results of my test was a 6.0.I am very proud of my accompishment. I check my sugar 2 times every day. Every morning and every night before bed. I work on a treadmill 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes. I will not let my type 2 diabetes get the upper hand. I have too much left to do.
- Bea
June 18, 2012 4:21 p.m.
Antje: Thank you for posting further patient assistance resources. Good resources! You mentioned test strips and that brought to mind that online shopping places like Amazon.com often have test strips at half the price of pharmacies.
- Nancy and Peggy
June 14, 2012 6:15 a.m.
This comment is for Joseph: When my doctor wants me to take a new drug, I immediately ask if there is a generic equivalent. I also ask what the cost of that drug will be. Doctors generally have no clue about the cost. Get the script and call your pharmacy. Ask about your out of pocket cost. Ask if there is a program to help with the cost. If the drug is very new, your doctor may have the coupon to get into the discount program.( Ask the nurse; they usually know these things) If the doctor orders prescriptions directly over the computer, insist on knowing the cost FIRST. Be a pro-active patient: this is your body, your life, your wallet. You determine what is good for you.
- Antje
June 14, 2012 6:05 a.m.
Hi Peggy, I read your post with great interest. I am a T1 diabetic, with a pump and a continuous glucose monitor. I am happy to be employed by a hospital system that provides very good diabetic supplies coverage but I am very aware of the monthly out of pocket costs. I am also a patient advocate and deal with Patient Assistance Programs all the time. I have a lot of clients who cannot afford their insulin and their testing supplies. I found that most current insulins have a PAP, so if the client qualifies financially, I can sign them up to get their insulin free for 6 months or a year. People who find themselves not being able to afford their insulin should go directly the the manufacturer's site and search for Patient Assistance Program and go from there. Test strips are much harder to come by, but in upstate New York, certain not-for-profit agencies have started acquiring unused test strips ( the advertise on Craig's List and pay up to twenty dollars) and handing them out to diabetics in need. Patients in need should always call their local Red Cross, Community Action Agency or Salvation Army and ask if they have such a program. For all my other medications, I used Walmart Pharmacy and insist on prescriptions that allow me to use their $4 generic program. I regularly provide an updated list of $4 Generics to my PCP. Diabetes is all about self-management and self-care. The more we know, the better we can be. Thank you for this blog!
- Antje
June 5, 2012 11:17 a.m.
This does not really help with the price of any of these items. The overall price is steep. If you can't afford them, you can't afford them. I tried to get my medication (oral) reduced by some of these methods but they could not for one reason or another. It's very frustrating. I know I need my meds, but I cannot afford them. $200 for 1 month of 1 type of pills reduced down to $150 is cheaper, but still not affordable. I have to ration or go without. There is no other way that I can see/find.
- Joeseph
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