I am a 29 year old type 1 diabetic. I am on medtronic paradigm pump.I come from a low middle class family. My supplies that I stock piled over the years have ran out as of 3 months ago. After fighting with the state to get on medicade to cover my supplies, they have granted me coverage but with a limit of how much money I can earn a month to stay covered. I am only allowed to make 819.00$ a month to qualify. I had to quit my job because I was making more then that a month. And with the medical coverage from said job didn't even cover durable medical supplies at all. I have had to move back into my parents house as well. HOW THE HELL am I supposed to get the supplies I need to support my life which my endocrinologist says I would be wise not to go off of and sustain myself on my own. The supplies I go through in one month tally 1600.00 dollars. I am at the end of my rope with having to go through this.... my family hates me because of all the changes I've had to make with moving back and not being able to work right now....
What I want to know is what kind of ways are there to get resivoirs,infusion sets and test strips that I desperately cannot afford??
There is a whole list of Patient Assistance Resources on the tuDiabetes homepage, but sadly Medtronic is not among them. You can try to contact them, but I would not hold out too much hope. Perhaps your endo or medtronic rep can help you out with a few sample reservoirs or infusion sets until you get Medicaid straightened out. But in the end, I think you will have to dig yourself out of this rough patch. I understand you would like to continue on the pump. If your A1c in your profile is correct you can ill afford worse control.
But I guess I have to really ask you what you want to do with your life. You have two challenges. First, you need to figure out how to manage your diabetes no matter what. You need to become the Bear Grylls of diabetes. If you can't get pump supplies then become an expert at MDI and learn how to follow a strict diet and exercise regime. Lots of people achieve good control without a pump, you can as well.
And you need to decide about employment and self sufficiency. Heck, even Starbucks offers pretty darn good health insurance. Sometimes, we may just need to choose a job because of the health benefits.
I'm sorry if I don't sound more sympathetic, I don't know your particular situation or what hardships you have been through. I just want to give you some things to think about to help you through this situation.
I thankful for your input. But I've been on a pump for almost two decades and have been advised by my specialist that it's not in my best interest to go off this type of deliverance system.
I will follow up with another question to everyone out there in diabetes land,
Does anyone know of pump systems similar to the paradigm 722 that are cheaper and easier affordable that maybe I can look into switching onto?
First off, I am so sorry that you are having to go through this. What a mess! I can understand how upsetting this is because I've been there. I want to share a link that may be of some help.
http://www.cr3diabetes.org/
Best of luck to you!
