How does everyone afford to treat Diabetes?

Question

I'm asking because my boyfriend is recently diagnosed with Diabetes. The past two months, with all the Metformin, Avandia, Lantus, Novalog, needles, gauze, alcohol, meter strips, etc. We are struggling. His health insurance only provides $1200 gross towards prescriptions PER YEAR. We are very quickly coming up on that $1200 and it hasn't even been 6 months. I'm curious to know, are we doing something wrong? Why can't we afford this treatment? It seems like a good many Americans have Diabetes, how does everyone else afford the many prescriptions? We're freaking out, because we don't have the money for rent, gas, food, etc. We feel like the Diabetes treatment has to come first, but all these co-pays for specialists and prescriptions has drained our wallets, we can't buy food, nevermind entertainment. How does everyone else afford this?! What can we do?

Answer 1

I am a BSN/RN and I cannot believe some of these answers. You have quite a few good ones from intelligent, helpful people. Then you have Guy R (please see this website about reusing needles. I can't tell you how many ulcers I have treated on diabetics for this very reason. http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_06_341a.htm) telling people it's ok to reuse your needles. IT ISN'T!

But the most idiotic has to be "doowopper" with an IQ of about 12. Pull your head out of your bottom and educate yourself about diabetes. It is a DISEASE. You can't just change your diet and make it go away. "i bet that his sugar is out of control". Do you really know so little about a disease that affects 230 million people worldwide? Please don't answer any more questions that require your brain to function.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Gauze, alcohol, don't need em. I reuse my needles saves money and not such a hassle disposing. I use those needles for quite a while also, although not many health professionals would recommend this. I got a box of 100 needles in 2000 just ran out last year, and i do about 4 or five shots a day. See an endocrinologist if you aren't already, mine gives me samples of lantus and novolog, so I haven't payed for insulin in about three years. You pay more to see this kind of doctor but the benefits are worth it. I have also seen the diabetic strip for sale on ebay, but they are probably stolen from some wallmart. So 100 strips per month is about 1200 per year....go get em.

Answer 5

I know of someone that have diabetes and had an open wound almost 1 feet in size on the leg. Fully recovered on the wound and the sugar level back to normal after taking a product call Colostrum for about 3 months. That is not a medicine for diabetes but the good news is, doctor certify cure!

Answer 6

I am a diabetic. Originally I was treating it with the metformin. I have insurance that only wants a co-pay and has no limit. However, that is not the answer you need.

I am currently doing it on diet alone, and that is because of my wonderful health food store lady that gave me a book to read. The Yeast Syndrome by John Parks Trowbridge. If your bf has a yeast syndrome in addition to his diabetes, then it will make his diabetes worse. My blood sugars went down 20 points after getting on the anti-yeast diet - because it is stricter on no sugars than any diabetic diet. In other words, the ultimate answer is to change his diet so that diet alone controls the diabetes.

It is do-able.

Answer 7

It is hard at best. My treatments were running about 3600/year.

Much depends on your insurance and your financial status. Many drug companies now have programs that provide meds and supplies for free to people in need. So that is one option. See the link below.

Depending on where you live, you can go to clinics: example: NY Presbytarian Hospital has a free clinic for those in need. As I understand it, they also provide supplies. The MD's are the same as in the private practice, the only difference is that there iis no choice of whom you see when you go. The also have all of the MD's on site. They are good.

See if you have options to your current insurance. Do you have better/more complete coverage if you use an HMO? DO you get better coverage if you use generic or insurance carrier approved products? Can you get a discouunt if you buy in bulk (like 3 mos at a time)?

You can use cheaper alternatives to equipment/see if you can get supplies from the company you use.

Discuss some alternatives with your endocrinologist. See if there is any way to reduce the amounts of carbs and sugars he intakes. Also exercise will reduce his insulin intake.

Finally resist the temptation to ruse needles and other penetrating equipment. It does'nt save as much as you'd think, it gets more painful each time you reuse a needle (each injection dulls the tip a little more). It also can lead to contamination of insulin and infection.

This isn't much but I hope it helps. good luck

Answer 8

I am horrified to hear of your dilemma, I am diabetic too and thank goodness I live in The UK. In the UK diabetics don't pay for any medication ( even if it isn't diabetes related ), neither do we have to pay for eye tests. The stress of all this is going to make your boyfriends sugar levels raise, please make sure he is careful and I am so very sorry that I can't give you any positive answers. Under no circumstances must he stop taking any of his medication without firstly consulting his doctor. Is there a diabetic association in America who may be able to give you some help and advice. This story has really upset me and made me realise how fortunate I am.
Very best wishes.

Answer 9

Was your boyfriend given a name brand meter like One Touch when he was diagnosed? Ditch it, the strips are grossly overpriced. Target has a meter for less than $15 and the strips cost only half as much as name brands. I buy my meds two weeks at a time because I only have so much money at any given time, I'm a waitress. Alot of pharmacies want to charge more for this, calling it a "dispensing fee" but my pharmacist (also at Target) doesn't do this because he knows I'm on a limited income. It's hard, diabetes has become a big business, and when there's money to be made, the vultures will come out and squeeze every drop of blood from us.

Answer 10

I am a diabetic and use much the same meds as you have listed. However, I have CareFirst (bluecross/blueshield) Ins. I have not heard of such a limit on prescriptions. Most of the time is appears to be divided by types/classes of drugs: generic (cost less), name brands (middle cost), and new brands (expensive). My strips are free - Ins pays for it and two boxes at a time. Lantus/Novalog costs are for co-pay as is Metformin and other drugs. There is no limit per year. If that is what your insurance company covers, then can you switch companies for better coverage? And, YES, it's a struggle with both of us - we manage since we both are diabetic!

Sara: Please go to www.mendosa.com and his blog. I read this am that several states mandate insurance companies doing business within their state must cover certain diabetic supplies. Check it out.