Todaykos.com Diabetes affects close to 9.4% of Americans. Type 1 diabetes affects almost 1.25 million American adults and children. According to Diabetes.org the total cost treating diagnosed diabetes in the US is a whopping $327 billion, with $237 accounting for direct medical expenses. Type II diabetes can affect anyone irrespective of age. The symptoms are quite easy to miss at an early age.
Should you worry about diabetes?
Are you experiencing frequent unexplainable headaches? Are you almost always thirsty? Do your wounds take time to heal? Do you get recurrent infections on wound sites? Then it might be time for you to get a simple blood sugar test. Diabetes is the presence of high level of blood sugar due to a low level of insulin in the system. If anyone of your parents or siblings has diabetes, you should opt for a blood sugar test as soon as possible. If you fall in the high-risk group for Type 2 Diabetes, regular low-intensity exercise and low-carb diet can help you lead a healthy life.
What are the most common diabetes medications?
While people with Type 1 diabetes have to take insulin, those with Type 2 can manage their condition with modulation of their diet and lifestyle. Sometimes, doctors may prescribe additional oral medication to keep high blood glucose levels in control in patients with type II diabetes. Treatment of diabetes can be costly depending on which brand medication you are taking and the severity of your disease. The most common drugs for diabetes include alpha-glucose inhibitors, biguanides (metformin), DPP-4 inhibitors, a dopamine agonist, Sulfonylureas, Thiazolidinediones, SGLT 2 inhibitors, and meglitinides.
What are the additional expenses for treating diabetes?
Along with the regular oral and injectable medications to treat high blood glucose, you must remain up to date with your flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, and other supplements. Research shows that special diabetes care nutritional supplements can reduce the unpleasant symptoms including sudden faintness, dizziness, and nausea that may arise from the fluctuation of blood glucose. They can also help protect your liver from the side-effects of other medications, including antibiotics you might be taking at the moment.
How to combat the rising expense of diabetes care?
In combination with the rising prices of insulin and other medications for Type 2 diabetes, opting for effective nutritional supplements and herbal healthcare can be prohibitive for the typical American citizen. All people with diabetes without any insurance cover have to pay between $200 to $500 per month depending on the dose and brand of their medication. While stopping the drugs is definitely not an option, there are other smart ways to combat the rising costs of diabetes treatment and care –
- Speak with your healthcare professional for less expensive alternatives.
- Change your medicine brand and compare brand-name medication prices online.
- Check out prescription drug programs at your local pharmacy that offer medicines at a reduced monthly fee.
People with Type 1 Diabetes might be less lucky in this case since the cost of insulin treatment remains more-or-less the same irrespective of which brand of injectable you choose. Finding online coupons for buying injectables can reduce your monthly expenses significantly. However, you must continue with your medication to prevent further complications of other organs, the nervous system, and the immune system.