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    • 6 hours, 45 minutes ago
      Phyllis Biederman likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      TCOYD one conference and Breakthrough T1D summits. I really enjoy in person events.
    • 6 hours, 56 minutes ago
      Phyllis Biederman likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      Many because I am a retired RN, CDE
    • 9 hours, 1 minute ago
      ChrisW likes your comment at
      If you miss a long-acting insulin injection, what are your next steps? Please share more in the comments.
      BAAAAAAD WORDS. Definitely the next step for sure.... After that more grumbling, cursing and eventually the decision whether or not taking the long acting THIS late is smart idea. If NOT, then a slightly heavier dose the next day of the short acting insulin seems real likely
    • 9 hours, 2 minutes ago
      ChrisW likes your comment at
      If you miss a long-acting insulin injection, what are your next steps? Please share more in the comments.
      OH boy, an impossible question to answer without a lot more specific details......ie name of insulin / miss an injection completely over 24 hrs or by shorter time frame / to list a few.
    • 13 hours, 40 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      While living in San Diego, I got spoiled: TCOYD is based there and their annual flagship conference occurs there. I went every year. Among my favorite break away sessions we always the ones where we as patients got to share ideas on how Endo's could better respect us as patients. All of the vendors (pharma an device) were there - great oppo0rtunity to see hands-on the devices. An added benefit to being in San Diego, Dexcom and Tandem are based there - so having face-to-face interaction with their staff was awesome. And of course, great swag! Once I moved to Portland OR, I went to an ADA conference. AS a T1D person, I was very disappointed. I had gone with the hopes of meeting my Dexcom and Tandem rep. No device companies were there. The focus of the break away sessions were are oriented to T2D. Fortunately for me, there was was an Oregon Potters Guild show at the convention center at the same time. I bought some great artwork. Since I knew Steve Edelman (TCOYD founder), I got in touch to see what I needed to do to get a TCOYD conference in Portland. I needed to have an idea of the budget so I could also work on funding support. First thing, I wanted support (not $$) from the local ADA and JDRF. Contacted them, but they never returned my calls or emails. Very disappointed I couldn't pull it off.
    • 13 hours, 41 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      Literal poverty prevents attending such conferences. I must survive, therefore to do so the job(s) require all that I have which remains. I would likely enjoy such conference(s), ALWAYS go for the "small" tables FIRST, their survival depends on it...
    • 15 hours, 7 minutes ago
      Lenora Ventura likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      Yes, TCOYD and maybe an ADA conference. The second conference I went to in order to check out tech. Both were in the 90s.
    • 15 hours, 11 minutes ago
      Lenora Ventura likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      While living in San Diego, I got spoiled: TCOYD is based there and their annual flagship conference occurs there. I went every year. Among my favorite break away sessions we always the ones where we as patients got to share ideas on how Endo's could better respect us as patients. All of the vendors (pharma an device) were there - great oppo0rtunity to see hands-on the devices. An added benefit to being in San Diego, Dexcom and Tandem are based there - so having face-to-face interaction with their staff was awesome. And of course, great swag! Once I moved to Portland OR, I went to an ADA conference. AS a T1D person, I was very disappointed. I had gone with the hopes of meeting my Dexcom and Tandem rep. No device companies were there. The focus of the break away sessions were are oriented to T2D. Fortunately for me, there was was an Oregon Potters Guild show at the convention center at the same time. I bought some great artwork. Since I knew Steve Edelman (TCOYD founder), I got in touch to see what I needed to do to get a TCOYD conference in Portland. I needed to have an idea of the budget so I could also work on funding support. First thing, I wanted support (not $$) from the local ADA and JDRF. Contacted them, but they never returned my calls or emails. Very disappointed I couldn't pull it off.
    • 15 hours, 21 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      Before retiring I would go to our local teaching hospital/ADA conferences. They were held yearly and were a great way getting my CE's.
    • 1 day, 2 hours ago
      kilupx likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Other: I was not diagnosed with T1D at a young age.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      Before you chose an insulin pump, did you do a “saline trial” (a pump filled with saline instead of insulin)?
      The word "chose" is past tense. In the present tense, "no." In the past tense, the ancient of days 1996, the answer was "yes." They even hospitalized you for 2 days. I was and am very healthy and horrified the medical staff when I walked up and down 9 flights of stairs to get something. C'est la vie 🫠
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      I felt my lows when I was younger. Now after 45+ years with type 1 I feel a bit of “blurry brain function” when below 50. Thankful for CGM alerts!
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      I was diagnosed at age 29. Is that considered "young"?
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Yes 74 years ago. Yes today intensely. I am one of the small percentage of folks who, instead of experiencing hypoglycemia unawareness, feels it with even more almost acute intensity today. I guess sometime the nerves go the other direction?!? 🐦‍🔥
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Trina Blake likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      The "target" is set for 100 (the lowest option with Medtronic), my alarms are 70-130. With the algorithm it's interesting with a basal that rises and falls (and the "auto-bolus") according to levels and dosing, thus my alarms (down to 2% lows this way). But... There's another setting offering different target range, I have it set 70-90 for now. Only been a few weeks so interesting to see how it goes.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Trina Blake likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      On my Omnipod, both the high and the low are set at 110, the lowest it will allow. My preferred target rang is 70 to 120.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Diagnosed in 1951 when I was 6 years old. I would feel terrible when glucose went low, but did not know what was wrong.
    • 1 day, 17 hours ago
      Kristi Warmecke likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Missing answer is “I felt them early in, but not it can be hard at times to physically see a low.”
    • 1 day, 17 hours ago
      Steven Gill likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      To me... (a1C has been as low as 5.2, now near 6.0 with a lot less lows). Discuss with your doc goals, read the DCCT trials (determined "multiple injections" were more beneficial than 1 or 2 shots a day (mixed). Than up to your own confidence with insulin: -how your body reacts (after dosed I notice in 30-35 minutes) it's different for everyone -confidence with understanding the glycemic scale for food (some reach the blood stream quicker, some slower) -your health-as I grow up may not hear a low alarm as quick, nor be able to react as well -and tools... I'm confident with my CGM, alarms, understanding my insulin pump A tighter or lower target can lower a1C, wasn't worth my lows. But an a1C a little closer to non-diabetic can offer a little more prevention against the damage from diabetes. We're doing this to get as old a we can and be as healthy as we can (not necessarily a brag about numbers)---read a definition of heath is to be as far from death as possible. I think that changes...
    • 1 day, 18 hours ago
      atr likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      110, which is as low as omnipod 5 allows. If I could change it, it would be 90-100.
    • 1 day, 19 hours ago
      Phyllis Biederman likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      In 1973 when I was diagnosed the hospital policy was to force a low so you knew what they felt like. Around 2000 I became severely hypo unaware.
    • 1 day, 19 hours ago
      Phyllis Biederman likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Initially, I felt lows long before they became problematic. This diminished gradually over time. Now, after 51 years, I feel nothing until BG drops to critical levels -50. Exception is when BG drops dramatically over a very short period of time.
    • 1 day, 20 hours ago
      Edward Geary likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Yes 74 years ago. Yes today intensely. I am one of the small percentage of folks who, instead of experiencing hypoglycemia unawareness, feels it with even more almost acute intensity today. I guess sometime the nerves go the other direction?!? 🐦‍🔥
    • 2 days, 12 hours ago
      kilupx likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      My alarm range is 70 - 180.
    • 2 days, 13 hours ago
      Anita Stokar likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      The whole "target" question is a mess. I think most of us here (T1D people who are proactive etc) define "target" as where we want to be after a meal or correction bolus has done it's job. Pump mfr's (and many Endo's) define "target" like they define an A1C goal: averaging 110 over time. Lots of "discussions" (notice the quotes) with my Endo about my targets (I don't accept the "standard goal" of 70-180, I prefer aiming for 70-140). So so answer today's question, my alert ranges are 70 and 120 for high (I correct if I have no IOB, but may have food on board). My target bg (post bolus) is 80-90.
    Clear All
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    Does your health insurance offer benefits or cover services that adequately meet your needs?

    Home > LC Polls > Does your health insurance offer benefits or cover services that adequately meet your needs?
    Previous

    On average, how many adjustment boluses would you estimate you manually give yourself in a day? For the purposes of this question, these “adjustment boluses” do not include insulin automatically dosed by an algorithm without user input, and exclude doses given when also bolusing for food.

    Next

    Has a stranger ever approached you to talk about your visible diabetes device(s)?

    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.

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    36 Comments

    1. Gustavo Avitabile

      Here in Italy, like in most European countries, we have National Health Service, which is free (covered by general taxation) and covers our needs.

      3
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Lawrence S.

        Hooray for Italy and most European countries. Maybe someday in the distant future, the USA will catch up.

        5
        2 years ago Log in to Reply
      2. Amber Thompson

        Are ALL type 1 diabetes medications and supplies covered? At $0. At what percentage are you taxed?

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Kathy Hanavan

      For diabetes, yes, but Medicare in their wonderful wisdom, does not cover eye, dental or hearing so those are big expenses for me.

      3
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Wanacure

        Kathy, you might be interested in a group that’s trying to expand Social Security and improve Medicare: https://pnhp.org/

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
      2. Jian

        Medicare Advantage plans do cover those

        1
        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. Bruce Schnitzler

      A combination of Medicare and a supplemental policy.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. Steve Rumble

      My needs are met through a combination of private health insurance and services provided by the Veterans Administration. The VA is my primary source of T1D supplies but my private insurance provides ophthalmologic care.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. Sondra Mangan

      Tricare for Life denies inhaled insulin unless injected doesn’t work. I think I could benefit by treating the occasional sticky high with inhaled insulin—but it’s too expensive to pay completely out of pocket.

      3
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. Gary Rind

      Ugh, Express Scripts is my PBM. made me dump FIASP and won’t cover Afrezza.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. Mick Martin

      As stated by Gustavo Avitabile, most European countries have a National Health Service, which is covered by direct taxation. (I live in the UK, so my ‘insurance’ is our NHS (National Health Service).

      There IS the option to take out your own private insurance, and some people do this as they don’t like NHS ‘queues’, but I’m in no position, financially, to be able to do that.

      2
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Daniel Bestvater

      I live in Ontario Canada so I have no health insurance. I owned my own business and could not get health insurance due to a pre-existing condition (T1D).
      I have several friends in the same boat. I have spoken to a number of T1D’s that took government jobs just to be covered under their group medical plan. In hindsight this probably would have been a good decision financially!!

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Lawrence S.

        Hmm. I always thought that Canada had a government health insurance program?

        1
        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Lawrence S.

      I’m retired. Have Medicare and a supplemental from my former employment. However, I have had situation where I could not get the services that I need. Once I went to get a stress test with contrast. When I got to the testing site, they gave me a paper to sign which said that Medicare will probably not cover the cost of this test. They wanted me to pay $1200 up front. i walked out.
      Also, I have to buy my own eye insurance and dental insurance. I have no hearing aid insurance.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. KIMBERELY SMITH

      Medical and medication Medical Wheelchair also Dietetic Supplies

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Kris Sykes-David

      I am covered under my husbands federal health insurance and Medicare. Out of pocket costs somewhat inhibit me from trying a pump or Affreza. Like others mentioned, vision and dental are not covered.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. Wanacure

      In Washington State we elected a very rigorous Insurance Commissioner. See https://www.insurance.wa.gov/
      And Kaiser Permanente, like Mayo & Cleveland Clinics, practices preventive medicine. So I get a discount on hearing aids, etc., BUT there are copays. And I pay for dental insurance, but it’s added to my monthly Advantage plan. I do get free gym membership because patients who exercise cost KP less. Next month I’ll take a free in-person Eccentrics class (see PBS) at Shoreline Senior Center, 20’ bus ride away. SO FIRST ELECT AN INSURANCE COMMISIONER WHO WILL SERVE CONSUMERS, ands who is NOT an insurance company stooge. I’d be much happier, though, with a non-profit health care provider as in Switzerland, or a state run non-profit health care plan: https://pnhp.org/
      And https://www.psara.org/

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Amber Thompson

        I had Kaiser permanente in GA. They told me that unless I had an upper extremity disability or was an amputee, they do not cover the pens, only the vial. Same with medicare, they only cover the cheapest option, not the option that is best for the patient. Socialized medicine is not the answer to the healthcare issue in the USA.

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Jane Cerullo

      I feel like I am discriminated against for choosing MDI with an InPen. I must pay co pay for two insulins and the InPen. Insurance charges a huge amount for pen needles. I get them mail order for a lot less. From Diathrive. I don’t understand why Medicare pays for a pump and also the insulin. And not for MDI. When I stop working will probably have to go back to a pump.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. Pauline M Reynolds

      My only income is Social Security and I belong to an HMO. While my insulin was free with my previous insurance, the HMO is allowed to charge up to $35 a month, and they do. This was quite a shock at first, but I do appreciate the other economies they provide.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. Sherrie Johnson

      Medicare plus supplement that covers the 20%. Not an inclusive not an advantage plan. So far no problems with all my diabetic supplies or anything else. I pay zero copay and deductibles. Anthem plan f very happy with it.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Wanacure

        Aha! Thanks for that info, Sherrie. So you chose Original Medicare & chose a Supplemental PLan? Sounds better than my KP Medicare Advantage Plan. Though it may involve seeing new doctors & much time changing my iPhone’s Contacts list, I’ve made an appt with a. SHIBA counselor to consider Original Medicare with a Supplement. Thanks for sharing. ❤️😎. My KP Endo doc & her team are only available on some days at some times. KP does NOT offer Original Medicare!

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. lis be

      We have to make choices based on what we can afford and what the insurance company covers instead of what will help us achieve the best control. (Bad blood sugar control ultimately cost insurance company and diabetics more money in time as a result) Insurance companies negotiate prices with some companies and not others. It’s hard to anticipate what they will do year to year, which of your doctors will be dropped from coverage. Which medicines will stay the same price. An example- for a decade I was able to afford insulin, syringes and blood test strips, but not a pump (etc). Then the company insurance changed, I had to find all new doctors in-the new network, get new prescriptions filled, and found out that I now could qualify for a pump, but I could not afford the test strips that talked to the pump.
      Now I’m anxiously awaiting the end of my 5 year medtronic 630 warranty so I can see if I qualify for IQ (or any smart pump that will keep my sugars level when I’m sleeping)

      3
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. beth nelson

      It’s a shame that Medicare doesn’t cover any of the emergency hypoglycemia products … if somebody knows different, please tell me how to make this happen! Thank you!

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Kristine Warmecke

        I just got a new glucagon kit (the type you have to mix) last year, the Medicare covered.

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Steven Gill

      When I worked and with insurance was costly (stopped using a CGM several years) What I’ve learned since may have been less costly trying other systems, or looking at options.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. Kristine Warmecke

      Being on Medicare my Novolog should cost $35 per month but since it’s not what is on the formulary I pay $70 per month. All the rest of my DM supplies are $0 as long as I use what they say I can.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Amber Thompson

        It is so stupid that insurance makes the medical decisions in this country, not the doctors.

        1
        2 years ago Log in to Reply
      2. Wanacure

        Kristine, are you on Original Medicare with a Supplemental Plan? If so, are their other supplemental plans available? Is Humalog on the formulary? It’s similar to Novolog: fast acting.

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. Janis Senungetuk

      Unfortunately, right now I don’t have health insurance. I’m very hopeful that by the end of October I’ll have completed the process to again have basic coverage.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. Amber Thompson

      Currently, I am on a plan with Cigna through the healthcare marketplace that covers my Humalog pens, Basaglar pens, and freestyle libre so that I pay $0. But everything else, including endocrinology visits are very very expensive.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. Anne Mueller

      Sometimes. As a diabetic who uses both a CGM and a pump., I use lots of supplies. My insurance gives me the exact number of supplies I need. With my pump and my insulin it is not as much of a problem because I spent an extended amount of time on prednisone and my doctor changed my prescriptions to have me change my infusion site every 2 days. I built up a supply of more than I needed. But my Dexcom is a whole different story. Dexcom has been good about replacing sensors when they come off early, but there are months when I come uncomfortably close with having to go without for a few days because . . . I don’t know why. They come off early and sometimes Dexcom doesn’t always replace them and the pharmacist Will Not Refill just because I am out of sensors, and even if they did, insurance won’t pay for it. You need to have back ups for all your supplies, including sensors, and it’s insane that you can’t have them. What if you run out on vacation? Too bad for you. You can have your prescription transferred to wherever you are, but after that, your endo or whoever writes your prescriptions will have to write a new one for your regular pharmacy because a prescription can only be transferred once. The whole thing is insane.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Wanacure

        Anne, take heart. Doctors. patients, volunteers are uniting & working to eliminate high cost of middlemen, needless paperwork & data entry, and to improve benefits. Here are some links: http://www.pnhp.org/ http://www.psara.org/, http://wholewashington.org/

        Are there similar groups in your state or a local chapter of physicians for a national healthcare plan?

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    23. Brad Larson

      Just wish they would cover my GLP-1 – Liraglutide

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    24. T1D4LongTime

      The health insurance coverage is great, but the processes PBMS and Medical Supply places use to provide DME and prescriptions for all diabetics is dangerous. Diabetics use varying amounts of devices and medications and the healthcare industry has a bias that assumes fixed amount of use (3 test strips per day for example or 1 infusion set cartridge every 3 days). This is not the way to manage our disease…. restricted by the number of devices/test strips we can use per day.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    25. Jeff Balbirnie

      The insurance system is deliberately hostile toward our usage or being fully and correctly covered. Haphazard, entirely random insulin put in a specific coverage formulary, meters-strips fully covered in one period and refused coverage at some next random period. An openly hostile system against us period.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply

    Does your health insurance offer benefits or cover services that adequately meet your needs? Cancel reply

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