I found out today my insurance provider doesn't pay for insulin at full cost and that I'm responsible for 50% of it. If I had to pay out-of-pocket it would've cost me $193 a month each for Novolog and Lantus. My test strips were also covered at 50% and that would've cost me $100 a month.
It helps to have a good rapport with your local pharmacy as well as your insurance agent. I spent a good amount of time today working with the insurance company, the doctor, and the pharmacy to help me find a medication that will be covered. With patience and persistence, I was able to find out that Humalog, and Levemir, were covered at full cost. This insulin is the exact replacement but different manufacturer. Although change is always difficult, I felt pleased that this is one less expense I have to carry.
If you find it's too hard to continuously pay for your diabetic medication, I'd like to suggest calling your insurance company and working with your local pharmacy to find ways to lower your cost of expenses.
There are many challenges that we face as a diabetic and even more so as a diabetic figure competitor. It has been a tremendous growing and learning process for me to continuously monitor my basal insulin, short-term insulin, carb counts, as well as changes throughout the process of competing. The closer you get to the competition, the lower the carbs and amount of basal insulin needed. Previously I had blogged that my sugars were continuously high. Now I have the opposite - hypoglycemia.
I could easily say forget about it, I don't care anymore, this is horrible, why me, why do I have to live like this. With diabetes, it's the choices we make that will help us grow and thrive. I am a fighter – strong, determined, motivated and driven. This isn't a natural instinct – it’s learned behavior that you can control. You have to be at the point where you want to mentally make that change such as a diet/weight loss, or exercise and a healthy lifestyle. This has to come when you are ready. I enjoy blogging because I want other people to know they’re not alone – we’re all going through the same issues.
What most people don't know about me is that I'm like everybody else - I've struggled with eating, weight, and lack of energy to go to the gym. I've struggled as a single parent with children and as a person who's had to move from one lifestyle to another. Change has affected me as much as anyone. The last six years of my life has been a work in progress. Unfortunately, there have been more negatives than positives, but with a lot of hard work within myself and motivation, I have picked up the pieces to the point where I know where I’m going and I'm not stopping until I get there.
I’ve realized I need to see my endocrinologist regularly, listen to their advice, and keep clear notes of what I'm doing. I also see the dietitian weekly now - I give them my weekly diet, exercise routine, and log every single thing I do. I'm going to take a picture and show this - it might help you to learn what can be done to regulate and control diabetes by taking notes. You’ll see in the log my hypoglycemia, and what my dietitian today has done to help me change and prevent low blood sugar from here on out.
