24 year old diabetic is almost fed up...

[Tiffinei0293]

I am a diabetic who has been diabetoc for almost 17 years! When I was 19 I lost my health insurance so therefore I had to come off of my insulin pump because the supplies are so expensive. I also had to stop seeing my endocronologist because of this reason. I was recently diagnosed with Panic with anxiety, ADHD, and major depressive disorder and they said it is linked alot to my diabetes. I cannot control my diabetes as much as I try. I dont excercise on a regular basis but I run 2 times a week and walk alot. I can never be still. I test my BS 5 times aday and take anywhere from 7 to 9 shots aday to control my diabetes. I just had my hemoglobin A1c done and it is 14! And I am trying so hard! Im not lazy I do try.  I cook good meals, I eat right (with the occasional snack) I excercise, Im always on the go! This is really stressing me out! I had to sell my car to afford to get back on the pump to get supplies because the control was soooooo far gone! My doctor thinks I am nuts becasue she cant understand why my BS runs so high! I dont drink sodas (diet or reg) and I watch what I eat! I am on a sliding scale of 15:1 (carbs to humalog) 12 U of Lantus a day, and herbal vitamins to control other health problems such as Iron deficiency and folic acid along with celexa for my anxiety. I sit around and try to think of ways to help this problem but Im all out of answers. I cant sleep because I have a history of passing out in my sleep and Im scared I will pass out and wont wake up so Im up every 2 hours testing at night sometimes. I check before I go to bed but that still doesnt help. In the 17 years that I have been diabetic I have always struggled with my BS going low in my sleep and me waking up in the 30's or 40's! Doctors have moved insulin around put me on continuous gluclose monitoring system and NOTHING WORKS! I cant afford my medicines so I have to "BUDGET" the amount used which I know is alot of the problem but I cant afford to go to the drs. I have one bill I pay and that s internet to stay in contact with my family so its not like my money is being wasted elsewhere. I just dont know how long I can take this. Its so fusterating that alot of other people can get health insurance but I cant!? and I need it?! My mom and dad are both disabled so they dont have the money to help out. My boyfriend is a veteran and helps out as much as he can but his money can only go so far.

If anyone has any suggestions that might help me please let me know. I dont know what else to do.
Thanks for reading my rant. It feels kinda good to get it all out in the open.

[medhelp77]

Just wanted to add that you actually can obtain free test strips from the link listed above (FreeStyle or Precision Xtra strips from the Abbott program).  I know firsthand, as I received free strips from the program for awhile.  Part of the application process requires that you apply to Medicaid, get rejected, and provide Abbott with a Medicaid rejection letter.

The county health plan your son will soon be on sounds wonderful—is this a program through the county health department or a local low-cost/free clinic?  The clinic locator links listed above, once you enter your zip code, list similar services available in any particular area.

Fortunately, Novolog  is not the only insulin company that provides free insulin.  The NeedyMeds link above contains links to all the companies that provide free insulin (as well as other free and low-cost medications)—you just click the first letter of the name brand you use, and the info is displayed.

I have never had any experience in obtaining free or low-cost pump supplies, and it’s true that the links do appear to be intended for those who are 18 and under.   Does anyone on here have any experience with the free pump supplies links listed above?  If so, please let everyone else on here know.

As a Type 1 pumper who has also been without insurance, I realize that having no help for supplies can be hell on earth!  The only way I was able to survive was through low-cost clinics and through pharmaceutical companies that provided free insulin, free test strips, and other free meds.

If anyone else can post any other links/info for financial assistance or help, it would be so greatly appreciated.

Take care everyone & God Bless!

[tadurkee]

My son lost his Medicaid coverage a couple months ago when he turned 21. We were both frantically trying to figure out how we could afford to keep him on his Animas pump since he pretty much refused to go back to syringes. I tried all those links that are listed above in the other responses, and trust me, none of them can offer any assistance for those over 18. And the ones that offer "discounts" on prescriptions are worthless for type 1's. None of those websites offer test strips or pump supplies such as cartridges and infusion sets.

My son is a full time college student and currently looking for part-time work. As a single mom, I can't afford to purchase health insurance for either of us. Here's what we came up with as a temporary way to keep him on his pump, as well as get test strips and other supplies. He no longer sees an endo, but now sees an Internal Medicine Resident (doctor in training) near one of our local hospitals and pays a very small fee on a sliding scale. He is currently waiting for our County health plan to start accepting new clients, which usually happens only once a year. If he gets in, he will get basic medical care (which includes doctor visits and prescriptions, including test strips) for about $10 per month. The county plan will not cover pump supplies, but the Animas (insulin pump company) rep in our area is supplying him with "free samples" of infusion sets for as long as he needs them, although he can't request a certain length of tubing, but that's OK cuz beggars can't be choosers! Animas will also give him a discount for cash payment when he needs to order more cartridges, and those are much cheaper than the infusion sets (approx $30 a box) which lasts him at least a month. I've been buying his test stips on eBay (yes it's safe....always ask for the expiration dates) and pay way less than pharmacies, usually around 30 cents per strip. And Novo Nordisk (Novolog) will provide you with free insulin, although they must send it directly to a physician's office.

Are you currently wearing a pump? Are you seeing a doctor? It sounds like you need some major adjustmemts to your daily insulin doses. Please ask your doctor to help you with this. There is no reason to have an A1C that high. It sounds like you are not getting enough insulin, both short and long acting. If you cannot get help from your doctor with figuring out the correct insulin amount, there are books you can buy (or perhaps find at your local library) to help you figure this out on your own. Do not delay in changing your insulin doses! You are hurting your body, and the longer you go with high A1c's, the more likely you will develop major diabetes related complications (heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, retinopothy, neuropathy) as you get older. Please let us know how you are doing.

[medhelp77]

In my above post, Medhelp apparently does not let anyone post emails, but the emails for the websites can be found on the websites.  If you need help finding them, just send me an email and I will email them to you.

Hope this helps!

[medhelp77]

Thought I would add a link that lists organizations that claim to provide insulin pump supplies free of charge if a person provides financial proof that they are eligible.  I don’t have experience in obtaining free insulin pump supplies from any organization, so you may want to email these organizations.  The link is:

http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/assistance-programs/free-insulin-pump-supplies-1.html

The organizations listed at this link that appear to be the most helpful are:

http://www.charlesray.g12.com/  
The Charles Ray III Diabetes Association (their email address is ***@****);  Since I noticed you live in North Carolina, you may want to check with this association since their website says they are located in Apex, North Carolina.  One drawback though is their $15 application fee.  You may want to email them and explain your situation, and maybe they could tell you whether you would be eligible for their program without having to pay an application fee.

http://www.insulin-pumpers.org/  
(their email address is [email protected]); I wasn’t able to find any specific information on the website about financial assistance for pump supplies, but the link said they “offer financial assistance through their Insulin Pumpers Foundation program.”  You may want to email them and explain your situation, and maybe they can direct you to the appropriate help.

http://www.ipump.org/    
(their email address is program-***@****); Even though their website says they are currently only assisting uninsured children under the age of 21, they say they assist adults when “funding permits.  You may want to email them and see if they are currently assisting adults.

http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/assistance-programs/free-insulin-pump-supplies-1.html also lists and describes several other links that may be helpful.  

If you haven’t already, you may also want to consider applying for disability through your local Social Security office since you seem to have a lot of health problems.  If Social Security found you to be disabled, you would be able to get free health insurance.

Hope this helps & God Bless You!

[hava]

I have something which will help you get better gradually and the need for medication will decrease.You are quite active, so you will have no problem doing the pranayam everyday. Come back to report your progress every week for first 12 weeks , on this forum thread, and you will help so many people who have no insurance.Just say what changes you notice each week.
These pranayam exercises will help control the diabetes and the side effects.Build up the timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume later(after about a minute).The benefits will be noticed in weeks as the sugar level is checked daily.Over the long term the diabetes will be in full control.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 10 to 15 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years -  do 10 to 15 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Also everyday, press the centre point of the palm of both your  hands 40 times with the thumb and press the tips of all fingers 40 times each.
To stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin: mandukasan - kneel down(with feet pointing inwards,and sit on the ankles/heels, Vajrasan position), breathe in and breathe out completely and hold your breath, pull the stomach in, press both your  hands on stomach, bend forward as much as possible keeping the head straight, hold for 5 to 15 seconds and come back up while breathing in. Repeat  this 3 times daily  to stimulate the kidney and pancreas.Mandukasan2 - Repeat the whole process,but this time with with fists of both hands pressing against the stomach.Mandukasan can be done sitting on a chair, if you cannot bend the legs.
Continue the breathing exercises once a day, after the diabetes is in full control

[medhelp77]

Some great resources for locating free and low cost clinics are the two links I have listed below.  These clinics usually require proof of income to be eligible for services (which can include doctor's visits and even lab work).  I’m a Type I who doesn’t have any insurance either and these types of clinics have worked for me—I have received very low cost doctor’s visits and lab work.

https://www.pparx.org/FreeClinicFinder.php

http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

Both of these links, once you enter your information, will tell you the nearest free and low cost clinics; there usually are several clinics to choose from.

The website www.needymeds.com is a great resource for downloading forms to get free or low cost medications.  There are many different companies that provide free insulin and many other types of medications (click on the Brand or Generic name drugs link, then click the first letter of the type of medication you use and it should show up on the list), and there is one company (Abbott—the makers of FreeStyle and Precision Xtra test strips) that will provide a monthly supply of free test strips and lancets (all FreeStyle or Precision Xtra brand, and they also give you one of their FreeStyle or Precision Xtra meters), but you must apply to their patient assistance program as well as Medicaid and provide Abbott with a Medicaid rejection letter.  Here’s the direct link to the Abbott program:

http://www.needymeds.org/company_list.taf?_function=name&program_id=1047

(If anyone knows of any other companies that have free test strip programs, please let everyone else here know—it would be *greatly* appreciated.)

You will need to have your doctor fill out the forms and provide you with a prescription, and you will also need to provide proof of income.  Receiving medications from pharmaceutical companies such as these can sometimes take at least two weeks.  Also remember that doctors and hospitals often provide samples, as well as the health department.  

I've heard about hospital charity programs that can help with various things as well but don't have any personal experience dealing with them.  You would need to call a hospital's business office or financial aid office and ask about charity care programs.

God Bless You & Hope this helps!