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i do appreciate that insulin costs are again being addressed and that it's impacting the cost of other medications BUT i think the full price of having diabetes is something that needs to be discussed (thread)
the majority of treatment plans require TWO types of insulin - long acting (basal) and short acting (bolus).
insulin is the only thing REQUIRED to stay alive
insulin is the only thing REQUIRED to stay alive
the treatment plan that requires one insulin (bolus) is if you have an insulin pump which start around $5k (without insurance) and average around $8k.
the pump itself can be affordable thru payments but the actual cost of USING it is what most diabetics cannot afford.
the pump itself can be affordable thru payments but the actual cost of USING it is what most diabetics cannot afford.
a pump infusion set is sold in boxes of 10 for $90-$300 depending on brand and the insulin reservoirs are $30-$45 for 10/box.
each set has to be replaced everything 3 days because it will get infected after that (i used to stretch it to about five days with no problems)
each set has to be replaced everything 3 days because it will get infected after that (i used to stretch it to about five days with no problems)
sets can also fall out or the cannula tubing can "kink" before those three days (and often do) so plan about an average of 10-13 sets per month. i'm bad at math but it's around $175 MINIMUM a month - and that doesn't include insulin.
using vials w/ syringes or insulin pens w/ tips is around $20-$40 a month if you use the right website but honestly it is a lot more difficult to control blood sugar manually like this.
which brings me to my next point! monitoring blood sugar!!
which brings me to my next point! monitoring blood sugar!!
monitoring blood sugar is not necessary per se but it will affect your quality of life significantly. it's the first thing that i stopped doing when i didn't have money and it is taking a lot of effort to get to a baseline of healthy again. (years of work)
monitoring sets range from $10-$50. the test strips are around $20-$60/50 strips and you SHOULD test at least 5 times a day.
continuous glucose monitoring is the best but also pretty expensive but i can't find solid prices and i use the libre ($75 w/o insurance for 14 days)
continuous glucose monitoring is the best but also pretty expensive but i can't find solid prices and i use the libre ($75 w/o insurance for 14 days)
then you have the actual medical side of it - going to the doctor's office.
endocrinologists are specialists so if you do have insurance, the copay is higher. and if you don't....i asked about seeing my doctor when my insurance dropped me and it would've been $350 for one visit
endocrinologists are specialists so if you do have insurance, the copay is higher. and if you don't....i asked about seeing my doctor when my insurance dropped me and it would've been $350 for one visit
so like!!!!! when i say it's expensive and frustrating to have diabetes, take all this into consideration AND ALSO think about how much trauma is involved with having a condition like this - a therapist is honestly also a very good thing to have as well. which means more money.
i did lose steam on this thread if u couldn't tell but i genuinely cannot focus on it too much or i Explode lmaooo, support your local diabetic pls 
