How to Lower Rising Diabetes Costs

Approximately 9.3 percent of the U.S. population…

Or 29 million Americans, currently have diabetes, and of those, one in four Americans are unaware that they are living with the condition. With so many affected by the disease, the costs of diabetes are becoming an increasing problem.

More than 10 percent of healthcare dollars in the country are spent directly on diabetes and its complications, and as of 2012, the total healthcare costs for diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. is an estimated $245 billion, a 45 percent increase since 2007.

That figure includes direct costs of $176 billion in emergency and hospital care, diabetes medications, and physician’s visits, and according to the American Diabetes Association, each diabetic in America spends approximately $13,700 annually on care related to the condition.

Skipping Meds Can Be Risky

The harm that high care costs can cause is also frequently a topic of discussion throughout this time. According to a recent poll conducted by Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, Americans resort to potentially dangerous actions when they cannot afford their healthcare, including taking expired prescriptions, skipping medication doses, neglecting to fill prescriptions, and avoiding medical procedures and visits to their healthcare providers.

What You Can Do

If you notice one or more of the symptoms of diabetes, it is important to schedule an appointment with your physician as soon as possible to be tested for the condition. Type 2 diabetes can be complicated, and individuals diagnosed with this form of diabetes are two times more likely to develop and pass aware from cardiovascular disease. Type 2 diabetes also increases the risk of premature death, amputation, impotence, blindness, nerve damage, stroke, and other severe health complications. Detecting it early can help you not only health-wise but financially as well.

If you are diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor can discuss any lifestyle changes that you may need to make to help you control the disease such as dietary alterations and weight loss plans. These measures can be just as effective as medication, particularly in the early stages of diabetes, and some may even result in lower long-term medical costs for insulin and other injectable medications.

Metformin is a drug often prescribed to type 2 diabetics amid a strong medical consensus that has recently emerged in the U.S., Australia, and Europe indicating that diabetics should first attempt this medication before trying other possible drugs. If it fails to lower your blood glucose level, you may be prescribed a second medication such as glimepiride or glipizide xl. These low-cost generics typically average between $4 and $35 per month, and some studies have found that they work just as well as newer classes of diabetes medications.

To further trim your healthcare costs, try taking advantage of any local or state programs for which you may be eligible. For instance, NeedyMeds, a nonprofit group, helps diabetics to find prescription assistance programs that can help you to afford your medications. RxAssist and Partnership for Prescription Assistance are similar resources that can help you to afford care, and you are not required to be uninsured to qualify.

Additional Savings Resources

The Affordable Care Act states that Americans are not to be denied coverage due to preexisting conditions, including diabetes, and many insurance providers are now offering disease management programs for diabetics or those living with other chronic diseases. Medicare helps to cover the cost of the services, equipment, and supplies needed by diabetics, and some preventative services are also covered for those who are at an increased risk of developing the disease. In addition, some pharmacies will also offer programs that can help diabetics to routinely monitor their blood sugar and condition.

If you are searching for a reliable, convenient way to compare medications online and get instant savings please visit eDrugSearch.com. Here, you can compare your diabetes medication costs as well as products you may be considering in the future, and most consumers report savings of between 50 to 90 percent off of their current medication costs.

Diabetes Medication Coupons

As of February 23rd 2015 eDrugSearch.com just started offering prescription drug coupons. You can easily access these coupons that offer “additional” savings by typing in the drug name in the search box and then by clicking on the “Coupon” tab (see screenshot below) and then simply click on the green “Show Coupon Code” to copy and redeem the code on the pharmacy’s website when you are ready to check out.