If You Don’t have Insurance, You MUST Read This:
Another Good Question From Yahoo Answers:
Where is a good place to find inexpensive testing supplies if you are either too young for medicare and/or don’t have health insurance?
Any other advise would be greatly apprieciated. I was resently dianosed boarder line. I’ve started using Splenda and have changed my diet, but what else can I do?
I’ve gotten past most of the panic. I’ve been seeing a wonderful doctor who answers my question and have friends with worse cases. None of them know were I can get my testing supplies at a better price. I don’t make enough of health insurance but too much of government help. I’m only 30 so I don’t qualify for medicare. This is getting expensive, but I can’t not have it.
Good Answer: A lot of hospitals and county health departments have programs for no or low cost supplies, as well as outreach programs for diabetes education. Additionally, some drug companies have patient prescription assistance programs. Contact the company that manufactures your strips and lancets, medications, etc., and ask. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
Best Answer: I live in San Francisco, and we have a great program called Wellness SF, where they take your earnings into account. Specifically, those of us who are right in the doomed ’sweet spot’ of healthcare. We can’t afford regular health care, and we make too much to get Medicaid.
Like the answer above, check your local hospital or free clinic & see what their recommendation is. Either way, you definitely want to check out:
ClickOnHealth
They’re a cool site where they can set you up with a free monitor - All you have to do is fill out the form & to get free testing supplies. Sign up Now!
Posted in diabetes testing supplies
January 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
go ot he diabetes assiocation.com and they can help and try the webmd.com to they can help now for supplies you should shop around and see which ones you like the most, and then go from there.I wish you well with this.
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My best friens has diabetes and is doing well to this day.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Check your blood often, watch your diet closely, walk, and go to the doctor regularly.
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January 29th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Take things slowly.
It is hard and upsetting to be dxed with a chronic illness.
#1- Make sure you are seeing an endocrinologist. This is not a job for your GP.
#2-Meet up with a dietitian and a diabetes ed class.
#3-Subscribe to several diabetes magazines.
#4- See if you can join a support group.It's fun and informative to meet others facing the same problems as you are.
Keep learning and don't be upset if you have problems. that comes with diabetes.
Good luck
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January 29th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
If you're in the US, try CVS pharmacy. They have a fairly inexpensive system (the TrueTrack Smart System). The metering strips are MUCH less costly than the big-name brands, and you don't have to use a large blood sample.
BTW, you really only need the lancet (one tip will last quite a long time–you don't need to change it each time), the meter, and the strips. The stupid little alcohol pads don't actually disinfect anything–they just clean your fingers. Just wash and dry your hands well before testing.
You'll find a lot of recommendations for different diabetic diets. Many people find that the "official" recommended diet, which requires 60% of your caloric intake to come from carbohydrate and which strictly limits fat, to be both bad for glycemic control and unpalatable. What works for me, personally, is a reduced-carbohydrate diet (about 60-70 g of carb per day), which focuses on whole, unprocessed foods– but is very high in saturated fat. There's a whole world of dietary variation between these points, and you'll have to experiment a bit to find a diet that gives you the degree of control you're looking for.
I'm adding a couple of links that I found helpful. Good luck!
References :
http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/ Lots of helpful advice on monitoring your blood sugar and diet and exercise to keep it under control.
http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/diabetes.html Dietary advice and some supplements that might be helpful. Website is slow right now, you might have to hit "reload" once or twice.
January 29th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Diet Guidelines
http://www.diabetes911.net/readit/chapter10.shtml
Blood Sugar Management
http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/blood_sugar_management/
Wal-Mart Testing Supplies
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3555238
One diabetic strategy is to consume very small low-carbohydrate portions about every hour. Calculate approximate daily calorie consumption for weight loss objectives.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/question693.htm
Wal-Mart sells a 16-ounce bag of World Kitchens beef jerky for around $8.50 . . cut up and weigh 1-ounce portions. Jennie-O turkey franks (cut up and boil to reduce fat and sodium). String cheese sticks. 1-ounce portions of peanuts. Sam’s caffeine-free diet cola has zero carbs, calories, and sodium. Blend sugar-free pudding powder with water and low-carb (4 grams) vanilla yogurt instead of milk for 1/2 cup servings. For a sugar-free slushie, blend around 1-1/4 cup A&W diet root beer, 1/2 cup vanilla pudding, and 6 ice cubes. Prepare 1/2 cup portions of sugar-free jello in 1-cup containers, and top with a 1/4 inch layer of vanilla pudding when served. Chocolate pudding makes good fudge pops.
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000G32H3Y/ref=s9_asin_title_1/103-4336911-8289446
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1294/df1xx1.jpg
Wal-Mart sells round screw-together containers in the craft bead section which are suitable for take-along beef jerky and peanut 1-ounce portions. The large size measures approximately 2.50” inside diameter by .75” deep, and costs around $2.00 per assembly of 4 containers.
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5069/sp4il1.jpg
Might also consider taking a daily multi-vitamin, and a 81mg aspirin (if not adverse).
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January 31st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Hi,
Wal -Mart has their own brand which is called, Reli On. The meter is $8.88, and a 50 count strips are $21.98, or 100 are $42.48. This is the cheapest I have found. If this is still too high for you, then here is their phone # and website. You could call and just tell them your problem. It can't hurt. They just might send them to you either cheaper or free. 1 - 800 - 461 - 7448 ( 8:00 am - 6pm EST). http://www.ReliOn.com
You also might want to talk to your doctor and explain that you really need help with your supplies. Most doctors have these in their office, or they know someone who can help you with this.
You might also want to call PPA, they help people with no insurance to get their medicine. They also might be able to give you information on where you could get your testing supplies free or at a very low cost. Here is the toll free number: 1 - 888 - 477- 2669.
Hope this helps. It is not fun to need help and don't know where to get it.
Good luck with your diabetes.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Alot of hospitals and county health departments have programs for no or low cost supplies, as well as outreach programs for diabetes education. Additionally, some drug companies have patient prescription assistance programs. Contact the company that manufactures your strips and lancets, medications, etc., and ask. It doesn't hurt to ask.
References :
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Don't go for the cheap testing equipment as they will be low in price and quality , Search for Abbott and Ac-cu Check Meters , they are low priced but high quality glucometers.
You are are suffering from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) as you are saying that you are on the border line.
Following are my recommendations which I got from the doctors when I was diagnosed IGT
– Constantly monitor you weight , calculate your BMI ( Body Mass Index).and try to keep your BMI in the normal range. More chances of diabetes for the overweight/obese category.
– Eating patterns matter a lot when there is the diabetes history in the family , try to eat less carbohydrate diets. Better go to the nutritionist for better advice on the calorie intake.
– Exercise regularly to burn your excessive fats, with proper warm ups and cool downs.
–Go to the endocrinologist he will ask for for regular medical checkups once/twice a year.(Lipid Profile and cholesterol, LFT, Creatinine , micro albumin Urea , HbA1C
Furthermore there is lot of valuable information available on the net about the diabetes.
http://www.reddiabetes.com
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