Barbara Chase, MSN, CDE, diabetes management program coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Chelsea Health Centre advises that your diabetes educator is the first port of call when you are struggling to afford your drugs or supplies. Together, you can look at your money-saving options and find a plan that works for you. Chase says education is important because ‘Correct timing (of food and blood sugar testing), portions, and choices make diabetes control less complicated’ and therefore less expensive. ‘Knowing when to use test strips and what the results mean can cut down on the need for testing’ and people with type 1 diabetes need to learn how to count carbohydrates and balance insulin with food intake and exercise.
Next, don’t waste money on unnecessary expenses like unneeded gimmicks. Chase argues that special diabetic food (apart from diet fizzy drinks and artificial sweeteners) is pointless and you can save money by instead eating healthy, well-portioned homemade meals. These are less expensive and usually better for you than prepared foods. Chase also says ‘Exercising at home or in the neighbourhood is perfectly adequate’ over a gym membership.
Also, get creative. Ask for free samples of lancets, needle tips and other supplies from manufacturers and shop around and compare prices before you settle on a place to purchase what you need. Big brand drugs might be pricier than a generic medication so ask your medical team for alternatives and clip coupons from diabetes magazines and pharmacy fliers to see if you can get a good deal. There are also good places and sites to visit like eBay for good deals, or diabetes expos. Look online for an expo near your area and you could end up benefitting from free health screenings, cooking demonstrations, and product exhibits, as well as some potential free samples.
Finally, look online for medication, as online pharmacies often sell prescriptions at reduced costs and you can investigate whether buying multiple prescriptions at once will reduce costs, and whether there are any further initiatives out there to help you with your bills. However, Chase warns that cutting insulin doses to cut costs ‘is never a good idea, especially with the idea of saving money, because the poor control that results will be more costly downstream’.