Death and Debt for Diabetes (Part 3)

There is no escaping the economic crisis for patients with diabetes. Many diabetic patients are either unemployed or have lost their jobs. As such the employment benefits might also be lost together with it. Some might have limited resources provided by their loved ones. But this are soon exhausted.

Strips for Stripped Diabetics
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Measures that can be taken includes taking generic counterparts of branded ones. Generic drugs are considered equal based on terms and conditions of government regulatory bodies. They are usually marketed after patents of the brand and proprietary holders expire. In developed countries like Canada and Denmark the use of generic drugs amount to 40% of sales in the pharmaceutical industry. It is ironic then that it is in the developing countries where the branded drugs slug it out with gusto while the generic counterparts are tailing with all the crumbs left.

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Sulfonyl and Metformin medications are old but reliable medications to treat Type 2 Diabetes. They are just two of several generic drugs that are readily available in the mainstream market.

Halving of drugs are a common practice done by patients and their families to cut costs. This is unacceptable to many people especially doctors but it is actually recommended by Dr. Anne Peters the University of Southern California Director of the Clinical Diabetes Programs for such purpose.

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My father was on insulin medication all throughout his debility. Although the pre-mixed type and analogs have been around the market for some time, we have always treated him with the NPH and Regular forms that provide us with enough savings even when it costs a lot in the first place.

Monitoring of blood sugar level also requires shelling out of more cash. This includes expenses for strips and its reading device (glucometer). It is recommended to have a scheduled testing both for oral antidiabetic medicine takers and insulin users. This does not have to be daily nor done multiple times per day.

A healthy lifestyle is imperative whether there is crisis or none. Aside from proper diet and exercise are key to maintaining the diabetic patient’s health. They are afterall pleasurable and inexpensive.

Prevention: the most economical way to manage diabetes.(Perspectives in Continuity of Care): An article from: Nursing Economics