The cost of diabetes treatment may not be the scariest thing about the disease, but it is definitely a concern. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the national cost of diabetes exceeded $174 billion in 2007. Diabetics spend about 2.3 times more than they would if they did not have diabetes, and about 1 in 10 health care dollars are attributed to the disease. That does not include factors such as absenteeism, reduced productivity, and lost capacity due to early mortality.
According to The New York Times, diabetics spend $6,000 a year on average treating their disease. This ‘cost of diabetes treatment’ estimation includes monitoring supplies, medicines, doctor visits, annual eye exams, and other related costs. Costs of heart disease, strokes, liver damage, eye damage, kidney damage, infections, and the like are not included.
Saving on the Cost of Diabetes Treatment
Another New York time article offers solutions to the cost of diabetes treatment. The article,Protecting Yourself from the Cost of Type 2 Diabetes, outlines some money-saving advice. A summary of these tips are provided below:
Try the older drugs first. A study by Consumer Reports Health found that older, less expensive, and generic versions of the drugs are just as effective. In addition, some of the newer drugs have been found to increase health risks.
Save on supplies. Monitors are priced fairly reasonably, but strips usually cost 60 – 80 cents each. That adds up. Try keeping your blood sugar levels under control so that you can test less often.
Get screened annually. If you haven’t got diabetes, but have any risk factors for the disease, you should get screened annually. Early detection can save you money in the long run on treatment and medications. Those that are Hispanic, Indian, or African American, are overweight, pregnant, or have a family history of diabetes carry the greatest risk.
Adopt Healthier Habits. Eighty percent of Type 2 diabetes cases in the U.S. can be prevented with three simple steps: stop smoking, eat healthily, and exercise regularly. This isn’t easy, but if you can accomplish it you will save yourself tons of money on diabetes, and probably a number of different conditions as well.
Find Support. Diabetics who participated in a support, monitoring, and wellness program are far more successful in maintaining blood sugar levels, and therefore save on their cost of diabetes treatment. Visit the ADA website Diabetes.org to find information on local and online diabetes support programs.
