Diabetes can be a difficult disease to manage because so much of the care falls on the person who has it. But the flip side of this is that you also have a lot of control over how the disease affects you. And that can save you healthcare dollars in the long run.
What can you do to minimize your healthcare expenses?
- Diabetes is managed best with a healthy lifestyle of good nutrition, weight loss and exercise. Make sure to follow a healthy diet and get regular exercise. It is the single most effective way to keep your diabetes under control and reduce healthcare spending.
- Ask for generic prescriptions. Discount pharmacies like Walmart have many generic diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure medications on their $4 list.
- Go to your routine appointments. Primary physicians, eye doctors, diabetes educators and even nutritionists can often detect problems early, before they become more serious and ultimately more expensive.
- Check your feet regularly. See your doctor for small sores and minor infections. Untreated infections can quickly spread and cause much more serious problems such as hospitalizations and surgeries.
- Get your lab work done. An A1c and other routine blood tests can provide information about your overall condition and can help you and your doctor decide on treatment options. Again, nipping small problems in the bud, before they become more serious, is the name of the game when reducing healthcare costs.
- Community health centers and free clinics are an option if you don't have insurance. Many times the fees are based on a sliding scale, and certain prescribed medications may have a reduced cost or be free of charge.
Even with today's economy, there are ways to save on healthcare costs. By taking control of your health, and seeking preventative care before medical problems become serious, you can save money on health care.
