Diabetic Diet & Blood Gluecose

I have Type 1 Diabetes and currently live in the United Kingdom, so my care is free. How much will health care/medication cost me in the United States, if I were to emigrate?

I would stay in the UK! It is outrageous living here in the US. I spend $9000 a year and I have great insurance.

My insulin copay per month is $38.
My other prescriptions are $40 a month.
Miscellaneous diabetic expenses cost me over $90 to $100 a month.
I visit my Endo doctor every 3 months at 10 buck a pop.
My cardiologist every 6 months costs me $25.
I’ve been in the ER twice this yr at $50 each time.
The foot doc twice a yr is $25 a visit.
Blood work every 3 months $100.
The diabetic clinic every 3 months $25
My pump supplies cost $50 every few months.
My insulin pump was 9 grand. I paid $50.
I spend a $10 copay per month for insurance.
The drug companies make a fortune on the Diabetics in the US.

I would like to test my glucose everyday, but it would be great to have a meter rather than pricking the blood. I thought I saw one of these available. Does it work well?

Currently, in the US, there is only one FDA approved method for self-testing your glucose level, (That is trusted by Doctors), and that is using a meter and test blood. The most accurate readings come from finger prick’s, but some meters allow you to get blood from your arm rather than always sticking your fingers. Take a look at the ADA Site, and be careful about any Diab. Supplies that claim to be free. This is a serious disease and should be treated by professionals only, using the best supplies and testing devices available. Cutting corners will get you in a heap of trouble. The systems that "look through skin" are not only expensive, they tend to be in-accurate if not used in a near-perfect setting. IE: Controlled environment.

I read that cinnamon can lower blood glucose levels (bgl). My husband suffers from type 2 diabetes. Research on the web shows that cinnamon taken daily can reduce bgl’s significantly. Can anyone recommend this?

I know a lot of US vitamin companies do ship to Australia, not sure what shipping cost would be though. I know some diabetics who use the blood sugar product at vitabase.com, but I don’t know about their cinnamon product or whether it works.

I feel I may have hypoglycemia and have no health insurance. I almost fainted this morning due to low blood sugar. I ate chocolate and had a coke then was fine. This has happened before and I am tired of it, as it isn’t safe.

well,probably the glucose tolerance which lasts for 3-5 hours..after drinking some glucola,blood is drawn every hour to see if sugar goes up or down…..this would costs $ 50-75 in most labs…good luck….

I have a Samsung 005 blood glucose meter and need supplies for it. I am in the US and their are no supplies available for this particular model of glucose meter. Will universal test strips and prick needles work for it? If so, which ones should I purchase? Thank you–TC

Take your meter to a pharmacist and they’ll be able to match the strips up for you. As for the stylets, I think they’re universal, but he can tell you that, too.