The cost of having to buy diabetic products is financially draining. From buying a blood glucose meter to maintaining an ample supply of insulin, expenses just keep on adding up. You spend a few thousand dollars on test strips in one year alone and that still does not include expenses on blood monitoring supplies like glucometer, that may need to be replaced from time to time, disposable insulin syringes, injections, needles, pens, foot care products, and frequent trips to the doctor.

Needless to say, cutting back on your expenses is a welcome prospect. Here are some useful tips that can help you save on diabetic products:

Talk to your insurance provider. Although very limited, there are insurance companies that cover your expenses on diabetic products. Some companies pay for your blood glucose meters, insulin injections, medications, and other diabetes supplies. To know the extent of coverage you can get, it is best to talk to your insurance provider. But, be sure to clarify all your concerns with a qualified insurance personnel. Many consumers end up paying more than what they initially expected because they were misinformed. Be sure to ask whether only a particular brand is covered and whether test strips, for example, can be reimbursed.

Ask for a free glucometer. Many companies, insurance companies and manufacturers alike, give away free glucometers. Drugstores and pharmacies have a lot of perks that could help you save a couple of dollars on glucometers as well. If you look hard enough, you may even find free coupons in magazines and pharmacy flyers. The truth is, glucometers don’t really have to burden your budget for diabetes treatment. The easiest way to get them for free is to simply call the manufacturer of the blood glucose meter and ask for a free sample, if they are offering one, or express your interest in buying their new product. This can also work with all other diabetic products like syringes, lancets, infusion sets, needle tips, and insulin cartridges.

Buy your supplies online. You will be surprised by how much money you can save by just browsing on diabetic products online. With the exception of some online vendors that mark up their products excessively, there are plenty of online sellers who give huge discounts on their products. Some sellers can give as much as 50% discount on their products with free shipping, and sometimes a free item or two. When looking for an online supplier, make sure you find one that provides all the supplies you need.

Buy in bulk. Buying your diabetic supplies wholesale can save you delivery costs, dispensing fees and other expenses associated with purchasing drugs regularly.

Replace your medications with generic drugs. Generic drugs may look different from brand name drugs, but their efficiency and effects on the body are practically the same. Their price does not speak of their quality, but ratherf the absence of patent protection, which costs a lot.

Do not let up on your medications. Some people have the tendency to stop taking their medications once symptoms of diabetes subside, thinking that they can save on medication expenses this way. In the long run, this would not only prove detrimental, but will also pile up your expenses later to address complications that may arise.

When self-monitoring of blood sugar levels was first introduced, health care practitioners believed glucometers would be useful to educate people with type 2 diabetes. How? Well they thought by type 2 diabetics checking their sugar levels after eating carbohydrate foods, or exercising, they would learn “a good pattern of behavior”. However, many studies have found this did not happen.

There appears to be a lot of controversy as to whether diabetics who self-monitor actually see an improvement in their glycemic control. Apparently many people check their levels three or four times a day but then make no changes in their eating plan when their results are abnormal. Many studies investigating the value of self monitoring of blood sugars in diabetics whose levels are controlled by diet or oral medications, have not shown that this testing leads to improved diabetic control.

As type 1 and type diabetes is a condition where the main problem is elevated blood sugar levels, it seems there is value in being able to measure your blood sugars and discover how it is best kept under control. One good reason to know your sugar level is under control is this: the connection between high blood sugar levels and those diabetic complications!

Research shows neuropathy appears to come about when your blood sugars remain over 140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l) for two hours or more… this is when you are at the pre-diabetic stage. Actually many type 2 diabetics at the time of diagnosis have detectable neuropathy… this is due to the fact most diabetics have had elevated blood sugars for ten years prior to diagnosis. The blood glucose reading to confirm a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l).

What is your self monitored blood sugar target?

Many diabetics have the following target but check with your health care practitioner and discuss the best levels for you. Sometimes targets change as you mature or complications develop.

• fasting BSL or pre-meal… between 90 and 130 mg/dl (5 and 7.2 mmol/l)
• one or two hours following your meal… less than 180 mg/dl (10 mmol/l)
• before going to bed… between 110 and 150 mg/dl (6.1 and 8.3 mmol/l)

Self monitoring gives you the ability to make choices about the foods you eat, and which physical exercise you should participate in to help lower your blood sugar levels. Always write your results in a logbook along with details of what you were doing at the time, for example swimming, hiking or drinking alcohol at a party.

What is the Oral Glucose Tolerance test?

The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), commonly known among medical professionals as the glucose tolerance test, is a test that measures your body’s ability to metabolize glucose, or clear it out of the bloodstream. In other words, it sees how your body treats the extra sugar that is in the blood, and how this extra sugar actually permeates your red blood cells, which normally should convert them to energy for the body. The ogtt can be used to diagnose diabetes, gestational diabetes or pre diabetes. The ogtt is used to diagnose both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This test is more complicated than the fasting blood glucose test, and it takes way more time too.

How does the oral glucose tolerance test ogtt work?

If you are taking the oral glucose tolerance test ogtt to diagnose a pre diabetic or a diabetic state, then you should eat normally and keep health nutrition habits 5-7 days before taking the test. So, this means you will need to consume at least 140-210 grams of carbohydrates a day in addition to your fruits and vegetable of course! If you are pregnant, then these conditions do not apply to you. You may want to check with your doctor for a more personalized plan of action.

Once you come in, (In the morning I presume), your blood will be drawn to measure and establish your fasting glucose level. You will then be given sweet drink (glucose filled) that you will immediately drink. Normally, this drink should contain 75 -80 grams of carbohydrates. Note that I said “typically”. The reason why many complain that oral glucose tolerance test ogtt is long is because; your blood will continually be drawn and measured for glucose levels for the next 2 hours. If you have not gone in for your test yet, then you should prepare yourself mentally and brace yourself for any unforeseen surprises.

If you are contemplating going in for an oral glucose tolerance test ogtt, here are few things you should know:

Remember that even though the oral glucose tolerance test ogtt is used to diagnose diabetes, it is also used to give you information about your body’s ability to metabolize the sugar level(s) in your blood. If you already have poor diet and nutrition habits, be ready to face the reality of the consequences. If the readings of your oral glucose tolerance test ogtt are high, then it has an indication that the insulin in your body is not able to regulate the level of sugar in your blood stream. In this sense, this test is a signal for action that will help a patient take control of his or her health. In several cases, patients have succeeded in reversing their diabetes. However, before jumping to any sort of conclusion, it is advisable that you consult your doctor for additional information and recommendations.