Hi, I found this site hopping I cand find some people to talk about being a diabetic for more than 40 years… I have been since the age of 4 and now I am going on 45. I have lost part of my eye site, developed complications with my joints, and have no health insurance or and insurance for that matter because of pre exsisting reasons and the fact that I lost my job. I am often confused by why in this day and age of advancements it is more diffucalt to manage my diabetics by taking mor shots a day and poking my fingers no less than 4 times a day to meter my blood sugars? I do not want to go on an insulin pump for many reasons. I seep to be spending 25% + of my yearly income on diabetics supplys & treatments, along with special foods to manage my diabetics… I recently found out diabetics are pron to gluten allegres and hafe in the past 4 years gon on a gluten free?sugar free diet thhat has helpes in many ways, but once again the gluten free foods are usally twice the price of “regular” foods… How in the world do people manage to afford being a diabetic with or with out insurance?
Hi Jo, did you have a break in your coverage and that is why them implemented a pre-existing condition issue?
I know you do now since you are not covered but for the future they can not pull the pre-existing issue if you do not have a break in coverage for the condition for 6 months prior then end date must be the same or after the start date of the new insurance. They might try though.
Can you bake yourself? you will save money since gluten free flour is much less expensive then the finished product. Also you can contact the manufactures of the products you use and sign up to be considered for there discount or free supply programs. I know life scan has one as well as Eli lilly. I know other people use a place I think it is diabetic warehouse of something along those lines.
Also depending on the state you live contacting the Social services division might be able to help also. A friend or mine here in Cali works but he is not in great health and the state put him on a pump as well as cover all his supplies. I would think your complications would help with something even if you do not want a pump.
That’s all I can think of sorry it is not more
Be loved
Hi Jo:
I know your torment. I discovered my “issue” with sugar in December completely by accident when I had my brother test me with his meter. 2 hours after lunch my score was 282! I still have not gone to the Dr because 1, I don’t have insurance now. 2. I read about folks being denied insurance do to pre-exhisting conditions. (Hippa says a max of 18 months) 3. I am not employed and neither is my husband.
So what’s a gal to do? 1. Get as many supplies as you can for free. I watch drug stores for kits on sale and use coupons to get “kits” complete with 10 strips and 10 lancets for free after coupon or rebate.
2. I order additional strips etc from healthwarehouse.com and use tudiabetes’ coupon code TUDABETES (Yes tudAbetes… dont’ know why it’s spelled wrong… but that is correct) I recently got 300 strips for something like $136 after discount and it came with free shipping. It takes about 7-9 days to arrive on their free shipping so plan accordingly.
Why are you using “special” foods. I understand gluten free products are important… but why not try to make your own low gluten or gluten free stuffs? I’ve found that half the stuff marketed to diabetics are almost exactly the same stuff marketed to the regular population… but the portion size is just smaller. (take a look at the ingredients… you’ll be surprised) But if these products are favorites… Write the company that makes them, explain your situation and ASK for coupons. 
As for spending 25% of your yearly income on diabetic supplies and treatments… I would track that and see if you can deduct that from your taxes at the end of the year.
Thanks for your leads on glucose strips!
Sorry to hear about your employment situation… I have so many friends loosing their jobs… It is real tough out there! I just landed a part time job so that will help out alot!
As for your high Blood sugar, keep checking it and see if you can piggy back on supplys from your brother. watch what you eat and cut out all white sugar and flour in your diet! that helps most people lower blood sugars. excersize too!
Yes I make all of my own gluten free foods even pasta!!! I have a friend who is a studying culinalry arts and we set our minds together and came up with our own cluten free flour and other recipies! after reading about 40 gluten free books and 100s of hours on the internet I have put together a fairly good diet of gluten sugar free diet!
Yes I was shocked this year doing my taxes to see how much my medical expensives with insurance cost! I had 2 eye surgeries so that adds up! Insurance only covered 1/2 of the almost 12,000.00 along with the normal yearly diabetic expensives and non covered cost it adds up fast! I have no idea but soon to find out how people with out insurance pay for diabetic care! since I lost my last full time job and insurance I have learned to cut way back.
well thanks again for the information!
keep warm and have a happy new year!
cheers
Jo