Today’s topic is The Cost of a Chronic Illness. Insulin and other diabetes medications and supplies can be costly. Here in the US, insurance status and age (as in Medicare eligibility) can impact both the cost and coverage. So today, let’s discuss how cost impacts our diabetes care. Do you have advice to share? For those outside the US, is cost a concern? Are there other factors such as accessibility or education that cause barriers to your diabetes care? (This topic was inspired by suggestions from Rick and Jen.)The financial cost of life with diabetes has been a very hot topic lately. Here in the U.S., costs are rising and the political climate has a lot of us feeling fearful about the future. I don’t know what will happen and I’m honestly scared. But on the same token, I know I’ve been very lucky. I’ve never had to go without my medications. I’ve always had good insurance. Things certainly aren’t cheap, but we’ve never had to choose between paying bills or buying food or purchasing diabetes supplies. I know how lucky and privileged I’ve been so far.
So when I think about the cost of my chronic illness, it isn’t always the dollars I’m thinking of. Instead, it’s less tangible things. Diabetes costs me countless hours of sleep treating middle of the night lows or correcting stubborn overnight highs. I’ve paid with so many tears of frustration when I’ve tried my hardest and things still don’t go well. It costs me guilt when I see the worry in my husband’s eye or hear the panic in his voice when he’s leaving me a second voicemail and I haven’t answered the phone. Diabetes charges a lot in energy and brain power just to keep myself alive. It has repossessed my nights when plans are cancelled because out of range blood sugars have left me too exhausted to go out.I know there will be many powerful posts shared today and in the future about the huge financial cost of diabetes. But life with a chronic illness costs so much more than dollars and cents.
You can find more Cost of a Chronic Illness posts listed here.
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Yup.
ReplyDeleteI agree. So much of life can't be measured in dollars and yet the dollars do drastically effect our quality of life. I am grateful for the durable medical equpiment I have access to. It greatly improves the management both physically and mentally.
ReplyDeleteSo true, I immediately thought of money when I saw the word cost, but really all those less tangible aspects are the cost I feel each day too. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThe human cost is too great.
ReplyDeleteYes....I'm glad you commented on the emotional expense of diabetes. I am so frustrated with the actual expense of it that the emotional can get overlooked at that's almost as expensive!
ReplyDeleteSo true that it costs so much more than dollars and cents. It can quickly become overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteSo true... it doesn't just rob our wallet.
ReplyDeletethat was the firt thing that came to mind, the personal, wellbeing, mental health costs, the loneliness, the sadness, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteagree and i have posted
ReplyDeleteI agree. I tend to think more about the non financial costs. I guess that's a good thing?
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me about the other costs this condition comes with. I often pass them off as no big deal. But they are just as real as the financial burdens and worth my attention
ReplyDeleteSo true! I shudder to think about how much diabetes "costs" my family.
ReplyDelete