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4 Ways To Manage Your Diabetes Related Expenses
Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate, India is home to more than 65 million people with the disease, compared to only 50.8 million in 2010. Demographic transition, rapid urbanisation and lifestyle modifications are major causes for a boost in the driving forces that lead to diabetes. By 2030, India’s diabetic patient’s numbers are expected to cross the 100 million mark as predicted by a 2012 report by the International Diabetes Federation. The cost of diabetes seems to have doubled in the past decade!
Managing Diabetes can be a pricey affair but by implementing a few clever tips and following a proper regime you can reduce the cost of diabetes expense. Here is how you can do it.Generic Brands Provide a Cheaper SubstituteThough ”generic” insulin analogues are not yet available, many pills for type 2 diabetes are accessible as common brands. For example, a bottle of 500 mg, 60 tablets branded Glucophage tablets costs about Rs. 5000, while the same quantity of generic metformin (having the same active ingredient) costs as little as rupees Rs. 500. Different Insulin Types Have Changeable Cost/Benefit RatiosThere are now many types of insulin available for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Human insulin, such as Novolin or Humulin, can considerably lower the cost of diabetes treatment compared to analogue insulin. Doctors have pointed out that analogue insulin can reduce hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes by about 25%, but with the added cost of around 30,000 rupees per year as compared to using human insulin. If you have insurance coverage, this may be worth the cost, although it is understandable that it can be a difficult expenditure for those without coverage.Also Read: “Diet Alert: Foods To Avoid While Taking Metformin”Some Supplies Can Be ReusedThis is one tip to be extra cautious with, but extending or reusing supplies can help stretch their lifetime of use as far as they are required. For example, some people decide to wear their CGM sensors past the recommended time of seven days and see no drop in accurateness or reliability. Lancets are also another item that patients usually reuse instead of using a new lancet for each finger. This is, of course, dependent on your comfort level and financial situation.Carefully Monitoring and Managing Blood Glucose can Help Prevent the Huge costs of HypoglycemiaWell-managed blood glucose may prevent a whole mass of potentially expensive latent complications. Severe hypoglycemic events are also costly, with an average cost of up to lakhs of rupees for inpatient admission and around 20 to 50 thousand for an emergency department visit. As with everything, prevention is the surest way to avoid risky or costly situations. Multiple management strategies exist, so make sure to discuss what strategy works best for your diabetes management and your budget with your doctor or physician.Read More: 5 Ways to Control Diabetes NaturallyDisclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
