before i didn’t have insurance i did a couple of things, i researched the companies to see what their help programs were. I visited my diabetes educator to see how they helped people (sometimes they give away free test strips, meters, and sometimes even medicine), i found a doc with a sliding scale that didn’t mind handing out free samples. I know there is alot of online help to if you look in the right places online. When i was first diagnosed i went to the ER, had dka, they stuck me icu and gave me a nice bill of 20,000. I filled out the hospitals paperwork and based on my income i was cleared of all of it. Unfortunately i’m still paying for blood tests and er visits today though (only 1,000 more dollars to go, just finished paying off the doc after 2 years).AND always remember when you go to the ER they will stick you with more than one bill, usually the er bill and then the doc bill!! I swear the er is enough to scare one into being healthy, its so expensive.
Insulin: $130 (three different types of insulin)
Test strips: $75
Syringes: $15
(Like Pauly, I go for a third dental cleaning out of pocket. My dentist charges $115.)
Don’t know if this falls under maintenance but it’s related to diabetes, $45/month thyroid meds.
Are you interested in Canadian $ figures too ?? This will take me to do some " homework to research " time .
I completely forgot about my lovastatin ($10/quarter) and Lisinopril ($10/quarter)
During my working life I never complained about having to pay for insurance because I knew without it, if something happened I would be dead or almost…I was thankful to have it. At work we would often wonder what others without ins. did when they needed medical care.
I remember when I first started working how I had to pay for my insulin (although it was cheaper then it is today because it was animal insulin) and other medical needs. I remember how happy I was when my ins. finally started to pay for syringes…hopefully those days are behind me.
type I currently on injections (vial and syringe)
no deductible
Novolog + Lantus (each one bottle) + strips + syringes would equal $120 (forgot they upped Rx refills this year grr from 25 to 30)…usually though I don’t end up filling them each month (aside from strips) since I don’t end up using all of the insulin and I reuse needles (which is bad I know…) but the money adds up
I also take symlin but currently have been using just samples…but I would assume the cost is also $30 per refill or I would pay outright (if not covered)
I saw someone post lancets…but like many others I really reuse and I believe I have a lifetime’s supply hoarded from my childhood/early teen years when I got them on a regular basis
Copay to endo =$30 3-4 x a year ~$90-$120
Copay to optho =$30
I don’t see a primary care on a regular basis since to me it seems to be a waste of time and money
Glucose tabs/ sugar/candy/ food bought for treating lows …varies but at least $10-20 a year.
Software +link to dl BS numbers onto computer… not a necessary expense since I could always manually do it… but still something I wouldn’t have to pay for otherwise (same would go for things like cases for carrying supplies)
Some other costs for which I don’t have numbers readily available:
Lost sick leave (used for appts.) + transportation costs
Medic alert ID bracelt (I don’t currently have one…because one I bought was lost and then the next was broken while closing a trunk) cost varies by type of metal etc.
replacement batteries for meter (1 CR2032) once a year-not sure I have’t replaced them for awhile but I tend to use 2 different meters on a regular basis so that probably helps to spread out the battery power 
I think I would probably have gone for a different health insurance plan since I don’t really go to the doctor for anything else not sure what the difference would be since the workplace offers a lot of options.
Biggest cost to me though is time/opportunity cost…if I wasn’t doing something related to managing D (logging, treating lows, correcting, measuring carbs for new recipe etc), what else could I be doing instead? (enjoy more leisure time, save more and retire earlier perhaps)
Correction: This year I expect to spend $3800 this year (typo in the first post.) Our insurance premium went WAY up this year.
Gum disease is more common in diabetics, and can exacerbate diabetes. Here are two resources:
Diabetes and Your Oral Health http://www.ada.org/public/topics/diabetes_faq.asp
Diabetes and Oral Health Problems http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/oral-health-and-hygiene/diabetes-and-oral.html
JT,
Hi I am a general dentist and mother to a 12 year old type 1 diabetic. All diabetics (1’s and 2"s and whoever else) are more prone to periodontal disease. Perio disease results in loss of the attachment of tooth to gum leading to bone loss and ultimately to tooth loss. So all diabetics should be vigilant and come to the dentist for a check-up/cleaning 2x a year. I have some patients who do better with a cleaning 3 or 4 times a year. That is up to you and what your dentist/hygienist recommends.
Type 1 (child) - Canada
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Pump - no charge (covered by provincial medical program)
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All prescriptions are paid out of pocket until provincial plan deductible reached ($1000/year in our case) bringing test strips/insulin/infusion sets/resevoirs/thyroid medication/glucagon costs to ~$83 per month. Some items not covered by provincial plan - urine and blood ketone strips and, of course, glucose tabs.
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Dr. appointments (4 endo visits per year) no charge (covered by provincial plan).
If we had extra medical insurance through an employer, I expect we would pay out about $200/year for insulin/supplies.
My Hubby pays $35.00 every January. This covers all of our prescription medications+my strips/syringes, etc.and is provided by the group Insurance at his work.