Diabetes and COVID-19: What you need to know

Everyone should be doing everything they can to avoid the coronavirus, but people with diabetes need to be extra careful. The risk of catching it isn’t higher, but the risk of complications is. If your diabetes isn’t under control, your immune system won’t be able to work as well as it should.
If you have diabetes, it’s important to stay prepared and make sure that you’re watching your blood sugar closely.

Make Sure Your Prescriptions are Current and You Have the Maximum Number of Refills
Call your doctor to make sure that all of your prescriptions are up to date. Make sure that you have the maximum number of refills you can get.
It’s important to make sure you have everything you need to manage your diabetes. Now is not the time to ration your insulin or any other medications you may be taking. I understand that this is not an option for many of you. Insulin is very expensive. Do your best to make sure you can keep your blood sugar under control until this pandemic slows down.

Use Mail-Order Prescription Services
Now is a good time to sign up for a mail-order prescription service. This will save you from having to go to the pharmacy, so you can stay home and stay safe.
You should be able to sign up for a mail-order service through your insurance company’s website. Many of these services offer 24-hour customer service over the phone or online.
If you can’t sign up for a mail-order service, try using a drive-through pharmacy to limit your exposure.

Look for Patient Assistance Programs
Right now, millions of Americans are out of work and don’t have insurance. If you lost your insurance or can’t afford your insulin, look for a patient assistance program.
Many insulin manufacturers offer these programs to help people in need.
You can find patient assistance programs through:

• American Diabetes Association
• National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Medicare

These programs will have different requirements, and you will need to go through certain processes to get assistance.

Talk to Your Doctor About Lower-Cost Options
If you’re having trouble getting your insulin, talk to your doctor about lower-cost options. Your doctor may know of a lower-cost insulin or delivery system that can help you get the treatment you need.
Make sure that you get all of the details, including hidden costs like extra test strips. It’s important to know exactly what these lower-cost options will include.

If You Run Out of Insulin, You Have Options
If you run out of insulin and need immediate relief, you do have a few options:

• Walmart: You can buy insulin at Walmart for $25 without a prescription and without insurance. The insulin comes in a 10mL vial and is called Novolin ReliOn Insulin. Talk to your doctor before taking this type of insulin.
• Local Pharmacy or Clinic: Local pharmacies and clinics can help you get insulin at a lower cost. Many clinics use a sliding scale payment option, so your payment is based on your income.

Stay Home as Much as You Can
People with diabetes aren’t at a higher risk of getting coronavirus, but there’s a much higher risk of complications. Play it safe and stay home as much as you can.

You can also find more trusted local services in your community at www.boyleheighstresources.org or download the Boyle Heights Resources app.