How to purchase diabetic supplies

Diabetes is a serious, chronic illness. Without ongoing treatment, a diabetic can experience complications that may include vision loss and peripheral nerve damage as well as increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In order to maintain control, careful monitoring of a diabetic's daily and even hourly insulin levels are vital. Doing so requires the purchase of periodic supplies that allow the patient to check their blood sugar levels both at home and everywhere else their daily activities take them. Buying the right supplies is an essential task that every diabetic should master.

Instructions

• 1

  Make of list of the supplies you already have on hand at home. Newly diagnosed diabetics should receive a list that includes all required medications as well as any additional materials including syringes, insulin vials, glucose tabs and diabetic meters. Diabetic sufferers who have confronted the illness for a longer period of time should know exactly what supplies they have in the house on any given day. Specialized items such as wearable insulin pumps may need specific attention. Find out from your medical professional what you need to do to make sure the pump works properly. If you have tape designed to make your skin stickier in order to accept the pump, you should always have a sufficient supply for at least a week.

• 2

  Find out what supplies you need to buy and what supplies your medical insurer will cover. Many newly diagnosed diabetics will receive a free meter and other meters each year as the old one wears out or needs replacement. Your medical insurance should cover this. Some companies will give you free meters. Test strips can be costly so find out which brand uses which test strip, and see if you can find the lowest price. You may also see offers in magazines that cover diabetic care directly. In some states, you don't need a prescription for insulin but you do need a prescription for the syringes. Make sure that you have all necessary prescriptions in advance. You won't need a prescription to purchase the test strips.

• 3

  Research which suppliers you can use. Medical plans can vary greatly. Not all diabetic suppliers will accept payment from all medical plans. Some plans may only cover specific brands or ask that you buy from only certain stores to get the item covered or reimbursed. You may be able to buy your supplies from a store or you may decide to order them by mail. You may also have to order certain supplies from one store and different supplies from yet another store. Speak with your plan representative closely about the details. Get everything in writing to ensure that you have the right information.

• 4

  Store the items properly. Different forms of diabetic treatment have different storage methods. Type 2 diabetes is often treated initially via medication that can be easily stored in a medicine cabinet. More advanced cases or those with type 1 diabetes may have different kinds of medications to take each day as well as differing tests to use. Syringes should be stored in a clean, dry place next to a sharps container where they can be disposed of after each use. Testing strips may be highly sensitive to light and chemicals. Place them someplace where you can you can reach them at appropriate intervals, yet where they can remain undamaged. Have glucose tablets on hand all times to help maintain your blood sugar.