How do you manage your DM when you have no health insurance?
Hi meredydd, Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear that you don't have health insurance. You many find the following article on financial assistance programs helpful:https://type2diabetes.com/living/assistance-programs/.
My doctor told me to go to Walmart and get the Relion glucometer and supplies. Very low price and need no prescription. I was so relieved to find low price supplies with no insurance. Best wishes to you on this journey.
It is not clear how you got the diagnosis for a high a1c. That only matters in that the suggestions may depend on getting a prescription.
With no Insurance, and depending on your state, you may consider GoodRX. They have a Gold subscription for like 9.99 a month that gives you discount telemetry apps and a even lower discount rate on Ned's.
Even without Gold plan my Freestyle Libre is only 70 a month and requires a script.
Metaforin at 2000mg a day costs 20 bucks a month at Costco using GoodRx.
Costco has a discount program for members.
If you need a test see if there is a Quest diagnostic center near you.
The walmart meter and strips seem to be the lowest on the market. I use the AccuCheck system and with a script a 100 strips cost 20 bucks at my Costco with either GoodRx or Costco discount plan.
To be upfront and clear I am a 100 percent rated disabled vet so in theory the VA should provide everything I need...but they don't so I had to find ways to get "extra" strips and the Freestyle Libre as the va limits the strips to 50 every quarter ( unless on insulin) according to my Primary Care doctor. The CGM is only available if you are deep into insulin use.
As I am not, and hope never to be, in need o insight. I chosr to pay out of pocket.
Luckily my new va Primary Care doc was cool writing the scripts. I fired the last Primary Care doctor because she said she only wanted me to test once a week. She stated diabetes was no big deal and she would just give me more meds if it got worse. That was when I fired her.
I assume you are new to this problem. One low cost thing I suggest you look at is Bone Broth.
Walmart carries a powdered form by Kettle and Fire for about 8 bucks a lb package. Drinking it like coffee or soup takes 2 tbsps a cup. Look up the benefits for diabetes. It is not fast acting but you should see results in 3 to 4 months of daily consumption.
